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

Kure (Kurg)

Crane and stork. Four species breeding in Estonia:

  • Must-toonekurg, black stork, Ciconia nigra
  • Neitsikurg, demoiselle crane, Grus virgo
  • Sookurg, common crane, G. grus
  • Valge-toonekurg, white stork, C. ciconia

The two toonekurgs enjoy special status in Estonian folklore. Where the valge-toonekurg is reputed to protect your house from lightning if it nests there (see Oleviste), the must-toonekurg was less benign: “Kui toonekurg sinu piiri mööda hulgub, siis tähendab, et mõni sureb” (if the black stork lurks around the borders of your land, somebody he gonna die), reflecting man’s atavistic unease with the ‘otherworldliness’ of migratory birds. True to form, toonekurg derives from tooni (forefather, ancestor), probably from toona (before, long ago, etc.), see Toonela. Part of the Lilleküla bird-name group of streets. See also Käbliku.

Kotka (Kotkas)

Eagle. Ten species breeding in Estonia:

  • Kaeluskotkas, European griffon vulture, Gyps fulvus
  • Kalakotkas, osprey, Pandion haliaetus
  • Kaljukotkas aka maakotkas, golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos
  • Madukotkas, short-toed eagle, Circaetus gallicus
  • Merikotkas, white-tailed eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla
  • Raipekotkas, egyptian vulture, Neophron percnopterus
  • Raisakotkas, monk vulture, Aegypius monachus
  • Stepikotkas, steppe eagle, Aquila nipalensis
  • Suur-konnakotkas, greater spotted eagle, Aquila clanga
  • Väike-konnakotkas, lesser spotted eagle, Aquila pomarina

Part of the Lilleküla bird-name group of streets. See also Kotkapoja.

Kõrkja (Kõrkjas)

Bulrush, club-rush, deer grass. Member of the Scirpus genus. After the rushes at the ford crossing Pirita river to what seems to be an unnamed island. One can imagine the crowds... Street parallel to another riverine plant, Kalmuse.

Kõrre (Kõrs)

Stalk, straw. Part of a cereal-names street zone. See also Luste.

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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.

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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.