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

Lõokese

Lõokese (Lõoke[ne])

Lark. Various inclinations breed in Estonia:

  • Nõmmelõoke, wood lark, Lullula arborea
  • Põldlõoke, skylark, Alauda arvensis
  • Sarviklõoke, horned lark, Eremophila alpestris
  • Stepilõoke, calandra lark, Melanocorypha calandra
  • Tuttlõoke, crested lark, Galerida cristata
  • Välja-väikelõoke, greater short-toed lark, Calandrella brachydactyla

To imitate a skylark, the sound you make is Liiri lõõri, so the nursery rhyme (Pöide region) goes like this:

Liiri-lõõri lõokene,
Piiri-pääri pääsukene,
Lenda üle meie kesa,
Rääste alla punu pesa.*

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

* You translate it!

Lume

Lume (Lumi)

Snow. Once known simply as Tänav 2 (No.2 Street, aka 2-я ул) perhaps reflecting an ad hoc administrative naming within a port zone). Also Soviet occupation renaming (1958-1991) of Hundipea.

Luku

Luku (Lukk)

Lock. Interestingly, the expression ‘keep under lock and key’ is luku ja riivi taga hoidma, or ‘keep under lock and latch’, far more belt and braces. And given this street leads directly (well, around the corner) to Võtme it should come as no surprise!... Street created (?) in 2013 and currently (2025) under redevelopment.

Luite

Luite (Luide) Symbol designating a Tallinn "Asum", or Sub-district.

Dune, sand-drift. After the sandy islets in nearby Lake Ülemiste (see also Leete).

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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.