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, many entries missing, no photos with the streets yet, layout not finalized...

This started with a book (last few pages under review) and so far 1814 of the 1884 articles (A to Z, with 50-odd Ts remaining) entered so far, so some 5% of the links 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

Hundikuristiku

Hundikuristiku (Hundikuristik) Symbol designating a Tallinn "Allasum", or Ward. Symbol designating a Point of Interest.

Lit. wolf gulch. Both stream (oja) and double waterfall/cascade (joastik) of variable height (see Joa), the first 1.5 m, the second 4, in Kadriorg. The name is from German romantic composer Carl Maria von Weber’s opera Der Freischütz, involving a feverish plot to cast a magic bullet and win a competition and thus fair Agathe’s hand. In the dead of night, egged on by Kaspar whose soul is about to be sold to the Devil and hopes to find his stooge (“He’s behind you!”), foolish oh so foolish Max resolves to go to the Wolfsschlucht, i.e. Hundikuristik (wolf’s gulch / gorge / ravine) and, and, and... end of Act 1. Sadly, the waterfall is often dry.

Ilo

Ilo (Ilo)

1) Folklore personification of joy, beauty and merriment; 2) Deity hostess of feasts; 3) First name, both male and female; 4) Alternative spelling of ilu, beauty; 5) Name of literary magazine published in the 1920s.

Ilvese

Ilvese (Ilves)

Lynx, wildcat. Native to Estonia is the harilik ilves, Eurasian lynx, Lynx lynx. One of Pääskula’s woodland mammal group. See Kärbi.

Hommiku

Hommiku (Hommik)

Morning. Leads to Päikese. From 1940-1941, named Haki, either jackdaw, chopper (as in knife), or stack (as in stook)... Your guess is as good as mine...

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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.