List of Estonian women writers

This is a list of women writers who were born in Estonia or whose writings are closely associated with that country.

A

• Kai Aareleid (born 1972), prose writer, poet, translator
• Margit Adorf (born 1974), journalist, poet
• Eda Ahi (born 1990), poet, translator
• Silvia Airik-Priuhka (1926–2014), writer, translator
• Ave Alavainu (1942–2022), poet
• Betti Alver (1906–1989), poet, novelist, translator
• Epp Annus (born 1969), writer and literary scholar
• Elisabeth Aspe (1860–1927), novelist and short story writer
• Elise Aun (1863–1932), poet

B

• Aimée Beekman (born 1933), writer, novelist
• Maimu Berg (born 1945), writer, critic, translator, journalist
• Piret Bristol (born 1968), poet, prosaist, novelist

D

• Helmi Dresen (1892–1941), translator, poet, Esperantist
• Hilda Dresen (1896–1981), translator, poet, Esperantist

E

• Kristiina Ehin (born 1977), poet, translator, singer, songwriter
• Salme Ekbaum (1912–1995), writer, poet
• Alide Ertel (1877–1955), prose writer, playwright

H

• Anna Haava (1864–1957), poet, translator, writer
• Lehte Hainsalu (born 1938), poet, novelist, children's author
• Aime Hansen (born 1962), poet, writer, artist
• Viiu Härm (born 1944), poet, novelist, children's writer
• Marie Heiberg (1890–1942), poet, short story writer
• Kärt Hellerma (born 1956), journalist, editor, poet, short story writer, children's writer, literary critic
• Kadri Hinrikus (born 1970), children's writer, journalist
• Laine Hone (1926–2005), translator, philologist

J

• Merle Jääger (born 1965), poet, novelist, actress
• Piret Jaaks (born 1980), dramatist, playwright, poet, journalist, children's writer
• Helvi Jürisson (1928–2023), poet, translator, children's writer

K

• Maie Kalda (1929–2013), literary scholar, critic
• Elvy Kalep (1899–1989), aviator, artist, children's writer
• Madde Kalda (1903–1984), novelist
• Kätlin Kaldmaa (born 1970), writer, poet, translator, literary critic
• Aino Kallas (1878–1956), Finnish-Estonian short story writer, diarist, playwright
• Maarja Kangro (born 1973), poet, short story writer, librettist
• Doris Kareva (born 1958), poet, translator
• Urve Karuks (1936–2015), poet, translator
• Merle Karusoo (born 1944), playwright, biographer, theatre director
• Kristiina Kass (born 1970), children's writer, illustrator
• Leida Kibuvits (1907–1976), writer
• Veronika Kivisilla (born 1978), poet, critic
• Lydia Koidula, pen name of Lydia Emilie Florentine Jannsen (1843–1886), early poet, playwright, journalist, translator
• Marju Kõivupuu (born 1960), philologist, cultural historian, folklorist
• Ilmi Kolla (1933–1954), poet

L

• Herta Laipaik (1921–2008), novelist, short story writer, poet
• Anu Lamp (born 1958), translator, actress
• Eha Lättemäe (1922–2012), poet
• Ira Lember (1926–2025, children's writer, novelist, poet
• Viivi Luik (born 1946), poet, essayist, children's writer

M

• Heljo Mänd (1926–2020), poet, editor, novelist, children's writer
• Helmi Mäelo (1898–1978), writer, activist
• Kersti Merilaas (1913–1986), poet, children's writer, playwright, translator
• Ene Mihkelson (1944–2017), poet, novelist, essayist, short story writer
• Reed Morn (1898–1978), novelist and short story writer
• Kati Murutar (born 1967), prose writer, screenwriter, journalist

N

• Ellen Niit (1928–2016), children's writer, poet, translator
• Dagmar Normet (1921–2008), novelist, essayist, playwright
• Minni Nurme (1917–1994), poet, prosaist

O

• Liisi Ojamaa (1972–2019), poet, translator, literary critic, editor

P

• Imbi Paju (born 1959), journalist, film director, working in Finland
• Eeva Park (born 1950), poet, novelist
• Aino Pervik (1932–2025), children's writer, translator
• Epp Petrone (born 1974), journalist, blogger, children's writer, publisher
• Asta Põldmäe (born 1944), short story writer, children's writer, translator
• Eve Pormeister (born 1956), Germanist, literary scholar, critic and cultural mediator
• Ketlin Priilinn (born 1982), writer, translator, journalist
• Lilli Promet (1922–2007), journalist, novelist, essayist, short story writer

R

• Helju Rebane (born 1948), prose writer, science fiction writer
• Astrid Reinla (1948–1995), children's writer, short story writer, screenwriter

S

• Anu Saluäär (born 1948), translator, editor, essayist
• Olivia Saar (1931–2025), children's writer, poet, journalist, editor
• Mari Saat (born 1947), novelist, short story writer
• Ly Seppel (born 1943), poet, translator
• Marta Sillaots (1887–1969), novelist, children's writer, translator, literary critic
• Kertu Sillaste (born 1973), children's writer
• Lilli Suburg (1841–1923), journalist, essayist, short story writer

T

• Malle Talvet-Mustonen (born 1955), literary translator and poet
• Andra Teede (born 1988), poet, playwright, screenwriter
• Leida Tigane (1908–1983), prose writer, children's writer
• Tiia Toomet (born 1947), children's writer, poet
• Leelo Tungal (born 1947), children's writer, novelist, librettist

U

• Kauksi Ülle (born 1962), writer, poet
• Marie Under (1883–1980), poet
• Eia Uus (born 1985), novelist, short story writer

V

• Debora Vaarandi (1916–2007), writer
• Kätlin Vainola (born 1978), children’s writer, poet
• Aidi Vallik (born 1971), children's writer, poet, playwright, translator, columnist, screenwriter
• Elo Viiding (born 1974), poet, short story writer

W

• Hella Wuolijoki (1886–1954), Estonian-born Finnish novelist writing under the pen name Juhani Tervapää

See also

• List of Estonians
• List of women writers

References