Pamela Anderson Eyes Name Change to Reclaim Her Foreign Heritage

Pamela Anderson has opened up about wanting to change her last name to honor her Finnish roots.

The Hollywood star, best known for Baywatch, revealed that her grandfather, Herman Hyytiäinen, originally had a Finnish surname before the family moved to Canada. When they arrived, they adopted the last name Anderson to fit in.

Anderson told Vogue Scandinavia that her grandfather was very important in her life. “He was the closest person to me in my life,” she said.

The actress also said she sometimes wishes she could go back to her family’s original name. “Sometimes I don’t want to be Pamela Anderson. I want to be Pamela Hyytiäinen,” she added.

The idea of changing her name now seems complicated. Anderson said, “I would like to change my name, but they won’t let me,” though she didn’t explain who “they” are or why they disagree.

The actress has a long connection with her Finnish heritage. She visited Finland in 2007 to reconnect with her roots. Her grandfather taught her the Finnish language when she was a child, and she often carried a Finnish dictionary to learn new words and impress him. But after his death, she admitted that her interest in the language faded. “[The language] kind of left with him,” Anderson explained.

The change from Hyytiäinen to Anderson happened decades ago when the family immigrated to Canada. They wanted a name that sounded more North American and would help them blend into their new home. Despite this, Anderson has kept a strong bond with her family’s past and Finnish culture.

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