Erika (Erika)

Eerika in 1924, Eeriku in 1921, and Эриковая ул. (Erikovaya St.) in 1916 (KNAB) but already present on Johann Friedrich Eurich’s survey map of Tallinn (1880-1882), so quite an old name even if absent from TT. Woman’s first name but, given its then German designation as Erikastrasse (heather street), most likely named after the shrub growing on the drier parts of the ‘Kallamäe Soo’* or Kalamäe marshland on Eurich’s map, reclaimed in 1898 (see also Angerja), especially given the mention of Feuchte und Heidigste Fiehtriften (damp and heathery cattle pasture or commons) 200 years earlier on a 1698 map of ‘Stadt Räfwal’ (city of Reval, i.e. Tallinn). Renamed as Nahhimovi P. during the Soviet Era (1953-1990).

* The asterisk refers to an error by Aleksander Kivi (1894-1985) who misplaced the marsh in Kalamaja instead of Karjamaa and is not a criticism – Karjamaa to Kalamäe to Kalamaja… who hasn’t had glitches like this? – but an opportunity to celebrate the man foundational to Tallinn street-name studies – no computer, Soviet overlords, scattered resources... – for a brilliant job.