Streetsign reading "Tallinn Streets dot com" Header

Work in progress

A pile of ro ad signs half-trashed and piled up on a building-site, to indicate the site is in construction.

Website under construction, a couple of entries still pending, no photos with the streets yet, layout not finalized...

This started with a book (last few pages under review) and so far 1889 of the 1891 articles entered, 1 or 2 links may go nowhere.

Logo of the Tallinn Children's Hospital Foundation

The Book

All author earnings of A Rambling Dictionary of Tallinn Street Names to be donated to the foundation or donate here.

If anyone could help or advise as to the legal mechanism, it would be appreciated, thanks!

The Website

Not intended at the beginning, the present website is taking on a life of its own, with plans for relevant discussion forums, picture galleries and, over time, more non-streetname entries.

In theory, it will be funded by advertising relevant to people in Tallinn, to be determined.

A percentage of profits (also to be determined) to be donated to the foundation. 

Contact

Photograph of Simon Hamilton in Pikk street, Tallinn.

Apparently, a company that uses its owner's name is considered more trustworthy because they put themselves on the line.

This is me, in Tallinn this spring (2025), on a 3-month spree to check details, take photos (about 12K), explore (ave. 15K/day), and so on. I think I covered every street in Kesklinn (apart from Mõigu), most of Põhja-Tallinn and some Kristiine.

For information, please contact Simon at this address dot com, thanks!

Names

Merimetsa (Merimets) Symbol designating a Tallinn "Asum", or Sub-district.

Woods beside the sea. As indeed they are. The name is actually a translation from the German ‘Seewald’, the name of the summer manor donated by Baroness Marie Girard de Soucanton (see Rocca al Mare) for the creation of a psychiatric hospital. ‘Seewald’ was used for so long (1911-45) that it became a go-to name for any such clinic. Considered in 1903 to be one of the most advanced psychiatric hospitals in Europe, its name is now Põhja-Eesti Regionaalhaigla Psühhiaatriakliinik.

Merinõela (Merinõel)

Broad-nosed pipefish, Syngnathus typhle, related to the sea-horse and looks (with a bit of imagination) like one that’s been straightened out, hence its name (literal translation) of ‘sea needle’. Part of a fish group. See also Nigli.

Merirahu (Merirahu)

Lit. peace of the sea. Although rahu can also mean reef, which, if Kari is anything to go by, could range from rocks to coral to fish and chips.

Meriski (Merisk)

Oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus, worldwide distribution. Part of the Lilleküla bird-name group of streets. See Metsise.

Merivälja (Meriväli) Symbol designating a Tallinn "Asum", or Sub-district.

Open land by the sea, seaview plains/field, etc. See Välja. The Merivälja hiidrahn erratic is at ///bagels.perfume.resolved .

Mesika (Mesikas)

Melilot, Melilotus, also known as sweet clover. One of a meadow flower or grass group. See Niidu.

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Advertise...

Your business, store or consultancy next to your street address and a percentage of your fee (to be determined) goes the the Children's Hospital fund.

Sponsorship logo top bare

Post your favorite local photo and sponsor the foundation. Your entire sponsorship goes go the the Children's Hospital fund

Wanted!

Beautiful photos of your street or Tallinn! Send them in! No remuneration planned for now, but will be attributed according to your preferences.