Pamela Anderson, a name that conjures images of Hollywood glamour, might soon be part of history. In a revealing chat with Vogue Scandinavia, Pamela shared her desire to change her last name to her Finnish ancestral name. It’s a move no one saw coming.
Though she is deeply associated with her Baywatch days and that unmistakable blonde hair, Pamela’s look has softened over the years, embracing a more natural style. Recently, at 58, she appeared in “The Naked Gun” alongside Liam Neeson. Yet, conversations were less about the movie and more about her rapport with Neeson.
Rumors began swirling about Pamela and Liam during their promotional tour, hinting at a budding romance. However, by August, TMZ suggested it was all a publicity stunt to promote the film, while a Daily Mail insider insisted their relationship was sincere and full of “genuine” affection.
In the world of celebrity gossip, truth and fiction often blur together. Only Pamela and Liam truly know the reality. Come mid-October, columnist Rob Shuter reported in his Naughty But Nice newsletter that the pair hadn’t spoken since the movie wrapped. “Everyone thought they were falling for each other,” one insider shared. “But it was all about marketing. They created an illusion and then parted ways.” Another source mentioned, “The studio needed a buzz, and Pamela and Liam provided just that,” adding that both stars now feel “embarrassed” by the pretend romance.
Pamela’s Journey to Reclaim Her Ancestry
Amidst the swirl of attention, Pamela Anderson is contemplating a deeply personal change. She disclosed to Vogue Scandinavia her consideration of adopting her grandfather’s original family name, Hyytiäinen. Before her family moved to North America, her grandfather Herman Hyytiäinen decided to change their surname to Anderson, a name that felt more fitting for Canadian society.
The Finnish heritage, however, remains close to Pamela’s heart. Her grandfather, Herman, a poet who believed in magical woodlands, taught her to speak Finnish. Although she felt it was an enchanting language only she and he could understand, it connected them profoundly.
Pamela described Herman as a significant figure in her life, carrying a Finnish dictionary as a child to impress him. After his passing when she was about 11, the language faded from her daily life. Now revisiting her roots by considering the name Hyytiäinen could bridge a nostalgic gap she feels in her identity.
What’s in a Name?
Pamela spilled her thoughts in the Vogue interview, admitting, “Sometimes I don’t want to be Pamela Anderson. I want to be Pamela Hyytiäinen.” She expressed a desire for change but found obstacles in her way, not clarifying who or what those obstacles might be, just that, “they won’t let me.” Over time, she has tried on varied personas, re-evaluating and rediscovering herself repeatedly.
Reflecting on her grandfather in a past Esquire interview, she remembered him as “a healer from Finland” and pondered why he and his brothers felt compelled to change their names, hinting at difficult histories in Finland. “I just wanted to go,” Pamela confessed to Vogue, “to reconnect. I’d love to visit Finland, perhaps with my sons. To investigate that part of me. A name change might fulfill that quest of answering to my roots. Even though it seems distant, it’s a part of me. I’ve always been proud to share that I am Finnish, even when I didn’t fully understand it.”
Does the idea of changing your last name resonate with you? If so, what name speaks to your roots? Share your reflections in our Facebook comments.
