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Record Participation in 'Ehe Eesti' Competition: Winners Announced

The competition, titled “Ehe Eesti,” was held for the ninth time, with the aim of promoting the value of Estonian names in the public domain. The jury included representatives from the Mother Language Society, the Estonian Internet Foundation, the Estonian Language Institute, the Estonian Language Council, the Association of Estonian Small and Medium Enterprises, the Ministry of Education and Research, the Language Board, and the Patent Office.

Record Number of Candidates

This year, a record 100 candidates were submitted to the competition, including some by the entrepreneurs themselves. The growing participation each year signals the active use of Estonian names by Estonian entrepreneurs and the increasing appreciation for the Estonian language in public spaces.

Candidates were evaluated in categories including production and service companies, non-governmental organizations, newcomer of the year, educational and cultural institutions, student companies, and national domain names. For the first time, Estonian trademarks registered with either the Patent Office or the European Union Intellectual Property Office were also recognized.

A cross-category People’s Favorite was also determined.

From Advertising Agencies to Chair Ties

A total of 18 entrepreneurs from various fields were recognized. "What unites all these companies is their commitment to valuing the Estonian language through their names, which is far from guaranteed in today’s business culture influenced by Anglo-American trends," said Ilmar Tomusk, chairman of the jury and head of the Language Board.

The winning titles in each category were awarded to Obadus OÜ (production company), design office Iseasi OÜ (service company), MTÜ Kärr ja Surr (non-governmental organization), Progepisik OÜ (educational and cultural institution) offering robotics training for children, Suhvel (student company) producing chair leg protectors, advertising agency kõmu.ee (domain name ending in .ee), and craft beer brewery Õllenaut (registered trademark with the Patent Office).

A Well-Known Choir Took Home the Title of People’s Favorite

During the two-week voting period, 1,652 votes were cast, with a tight race for first place. The non-profit organization MTÜ Segakoor HUIK!, which received the most votes, was crowned the People’s Favorite.

According to choir leader Ode Pürg, the title was a great surprise and honor for them. "People are likely drawn to the playful connection between the name and singing. However, few know that it’s actually an acronym for the words 'voices reach people's ears'," Pürg explained about the meaning behind the name.