Pamela Anderson Eyes Name Change to Reclaim Her Foreign Heritage

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

The famous actress, known for her role in Baywatch, recently shared that her grandfather, Herman Hyytiäinen, was originally born with a Finnish last name. When his family immigrated to Canada, they changed it to Anderson to better assimilate into Canadian society.

Lena Anderson shared with Vogue Scandinavia that her grandfather held a special place in her heart. She described him as the most important person in her life.

The actress admitted she occasionally longs to reclaim her family’s original surname. “There are times I don’t want to be Pamela Anderson,” she explained. “I just want to be Pamela Hyytiäinen.”

Changing her name has become more difficult than she expected. Anderson mentioned she wants to change it, but has been told she can’t, though she didn’t say who is preventing the change or the reason behind it.

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 family changed their name from Hyytiäinen to Anderson many years ago, when they moved to Canada. They chose a name that sounded more typically North American, hoping it would help them feel more at home. Even with this change, Anderson has maintained a strong connection to her family’s history and Finnish heritage.

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2025-12-04 18:44