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

Lossi (Loss)

Castle. Named after Glehni N.v.’s residence at the western end of Trepi: Hohenhaupt (‘high head’), a name calqued on the first German name of Kõrgepea nukk. Renamed (1950-1990) Basseini during the Soviet Occcupation. See also Lossi plats.

Piiskopi (Piiskop)

Bishop. First known as Douglasstraße or Douglasberg then variations on Duglase, Tuglase, Дугласская after the infamous Swedish mercenary Count Gustaf Otto Douglas (1687-1771), Governor of Estonia (1738-1740) and responsible for extensive burning and brutality in Finland during the Great Northern War. Renamed (1948-1989) as Kallaku during the Soviet occupation.

Rahukohtu (Rahukohus)

Court. Lit. court of peace. Renamed Rahvakohtu, people’s court, by the Soviets (1950-1989), the point of which remains a mystery. Said to be (i.e. it may not be) the narrowest street in Tallinn.

Lossi plats (Loss)

Castle square; between Toompea castle and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. See also Lossi tänav,

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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.