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

Pikri

Pikri (Pikker)

Also spelled Piker, lit. the ‘long one’ (Slender Man?). Mythological personification of thunder, aka Pikse*, etc., probably related to Perkūnas* of the Lithuanians (*for both, see Pikse). Renamed (1979-1995) as Pasternaki M. during the late Soviet occupation). Part of a magico-mythological group. See Saarepiiga.

Pïkk jalg

Pikk Jalg (0)

Lit. Long leg/foot. First recorded as longus mons (long hill, 1342), then langer bergh (also long hill, 1372), etc., this is perhaps the clearest indication of what a jalg is topographically. Since Estonian doesn’t specifically differentiate ‘leg’ from ‘foot’ (see, e.g., Sõnajala), what’s referred to here is the ‘foot’ of a ‘mountain’, and hence the slope that led up to the linnus or citadel at the top of the hill. As with Lühike Jalg, ‘Long Rise’ might be a better translation in expressing its functional quality.

Vanakuu

Vanakuu (Vanakuu)

Old moon. In this case (see Noorkuu), waning crescent. Eastern arc of the two semi-circular moon streets. 

Pikaliiva

Pikaliiva (Pikaliiv) Symbol designating a Tallinn "Asum", or Sub-district.

Lit. long sands, more realistically sandy expanse or stretch. Street cutting through two crescents called Noorkuu and Vanakuu, new and old moon, respectively.

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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.