Põhja

Põhja is a term used in Estonia that functions both as a common noun meaning "north" and as a toponym component in geographic names. In Estonian, Põhja signifies the northern part of a region, county, parish, or landscape, and it is commonly applied in place names to indicate location relative to surrounding areas.

As a toponym, Põhja appears in several official and informal place names across Estonia. It is often used as part of compound names to designate the northern section of a municipality or district, or to reference a historical or geographic feature located in the north. The exact status of places bearing the name can change over time due to administrative reforms, mergers, and boundary adjustments that have occurred in Estonia’s modern municipal landscape.

The use of Põhja in names reflects a broader pattern in Estonian toponymy of describing places by cardinal directions. Such naming practices help convey spatial relationships and historical geography, and they remain common in maps, registers, and local usage.

In summary, Põhja serves as both a directional term in Estonian and a recurring element in place names, signaling northern location and contributing to the country’s geographic nomenclature. See also discussions of North Estonia and other compound names that incorporate Põhja to indicate northern regions or components of larger administrative units.