Modern names of the streets of Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi. How old street names in Georgia have changed.

The toponymy of Batumi is unique: instead of typical seaside names, most streets bear the names of famous personalities. You can walk along the streets of Gamsakhurdia, Queen Tamara, King Parnavaz, General Abashidze, as well as streets named after Lech and Maria Kaczynski and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak al Nahyan.

Most of the streets associated with the Russian Empire and the Soviet period have been renamed. Examples include Dondukova-Korsakov Street, which became Konstantin Gamsakhurdia Street, and Suvorov Street, which was renamed in honor of Mamia Varshanidze. Streets named after Beria and Stalin also received new names.

Despite this, some streets associated with Russian culture have been preserved or re-emerged, such as Pushkin, Chkalov, Tchaikovsky, Yesenin, Mayakovsky and Ostrovsky streets. Mayakovsky, for example, was born in Georgia, and Yesenin spent time in Batumi, falling in love and creating many works.

In 2022, Tbilisi went through a significant update of its toponymy, demonstrating respect for Georgian national history and culture. The renaming of streets and bridges reflects the city's desire to perpetuate the memory of prominent Georgian personalities. For example, the names of famous writers, musicians, art historians and architects were chosen. This decision highlights the importance of cultural heritage to Tbilisi's identity.

Examples include the renaming of a bridge in honor of the famous Georgian writer Guram Dochanashvili and a street in honor of the famous folklorist Anzor Erkomaishvili. Such changes not only pay tribute to significant figures in national history, but also contribute to the cultural enrichment of the urban space. The renaming of streets in Tbilisi serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving cultural heritage and the memory of people who made significant contributions to the development of Georgian culture and art.

In Kutaisi, as in other cities of Georgia, street names reflect a complex historical heritage. Soviet names remain, such as Chekhov and Kantaria streets, but new ones also appear, reflecting modern Georgian history.

The historical center of Kutaisi demonstrates this layering: there is Lermontov Street, famous for its market with scales from the 1970s, and Tsereteli Street. The city also has streets dedicated to international connections and cultural diversity, such as Newport (sister city of Kutaisi) and Jerusalem (historic Jewish quarter), as well as Nizami Street, reflecting its proximity to Azerbaijan, and Pushkin Street with a museum.

Such a variety of street names in Kutaisi shows how historical and cultural heritage continues to shape the urban space, creating a unique combination of tradition and modernity.