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!

Home

Noorkuu (Noorkuu)

New (lit. young) moon. As in many languages, there’s a touch of confusion as to when a moon starts and ends, is ‘old’ or ‘new’... Here, in the northern hemisphere, named for the western arc of the two semi-circular moon streets, best translated as waxing crescent (see Vanakuu).

Oa (Uba)

Bean. The last of the mini edible staples group. See also Herne. Not only one of the two shortest street names in Tallinn  (although WW doesn’t really count), but the only possible anagram of Ao.

Puuvilla (Puuvill)

Cotton (lit. tree-wool). One of a textile raw materials street group. Word probably derived from or calqued on German Baumwolle, wool. Not to be confused with Puuvilja. See also Sitsi.

Tuukri (Tuuker)

Diver, of the bronze helmet and concrete knickers variety. First known as Neu-Holland Straße in 1856, then Hollandi from 1850-odd to 1950. During construction of new housing developments in Kadriorg, a ship was dug up about 200 m from the current shore, now named Viljo after the building-site manager, and dates back to later than 1487. See Liiva for information on Estonia’s and Tallinn’s slow rise from the sea. See also Pikksilma, where a similar find was made next to this.

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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.