Salma Hayek just stepped into a role she never expected to play this soon — and she already has a very special name for the tiny new addition to her family.
At 59, the Hollywood star has officially become a grandmother. And when Salma Hayek finally gave fans a glimpse of her newborn grandson, she didn’t simply introduce him by his given name.
Instead, she revealed the affectionate nickname she had already chosen for him — one that instantly made fans smile.
The arrival marks a remarkable new chapter for Hayek and the sprawling Pinault family, which has grown across generations and includes children, stepchildren and now a brand-new baby.
From longing for children to a family of four
Hayek has spoken openly about how deeply she once longed to become a mother.
In a 2017 interview with Red Magazine, the actress reflected on the desire she had carried for years while discussing her role in Tale of Tales, in which her character desperately wants a child.
”I had a child late in life,” Hayek said, recalling ”that yearning, that longing and that pain” she experienced before becoming a mother.
She continued, ”I always wanted to have a lot of children, and I was not able to. My body, as a miracle, had one.”
That one child was her daughter, Valentina Paloma, whom she shares with her husband, François-Henri Pinault.
But Hayek’s family would ultimately become much larger.
When she married Pinault in 2009, she also became a stepmother to his three children: François Pinault Jr., Mathilde Pinault and Augustin “Augie” James Evangelista.
”The huge blessing I’ve had is that my husband has three other children. So I have four. And they are all so different,” Hayek once said.
Over the years, she has made it clear that she considers her stepchildren an important part of her family, regularly celebrating their birthdays, graduations and other major milestones.
Another generation has arrived
The family’s latest chapter began in July 2026, when François Pinault Jr. and his wife, Countess Lara Cosima Henckel von Donnersmarck, welcomed their first child.
Their son was given a very familiar family name: François Pinault III.
For the Pinault family, the name carries special significance, as the newborn represents the fourth living generation to bear the name François.
Lara Cosima later shared a collection of photographs documenting those first precious weeks as parents.
”My husband (the world’s coolest françois) and our son( the world’s cutest françois) … our first month as parents🐣,” she wrote.
Among the photos was a particularly sweet glimpse of Hayek cradling her new grandson.
But Hayek had apparently already decided that little François needed another name.
Hayek Reveals the nickname
On August 16, Hayek finally introduced the baby to her own followers.
In an emotional Instagram video, the actress could be seen holding the newborn close while speaking softly to him in Spanish. At one point, the tiny boy let out a little laugh.
Then came the reveal.
Hayek explained that although the baby is officially named François, she has already given him her own special nickname.
”We are blessed to welcome the fourth living generation of Francois’. Although I will call him Panchito. He seems to love it, and I cannot love him more,” she wrote.
And fans immediately fell for it.
“Panchito” is a warm Spanish diminutive of Francisco, essentially meaning “little Frank” or “little Francisco.” The nickname has a particularly affectionate feel in Mexican Spanish, making Hayek’s choice feel like a sweet nod to her own heritage.
Fans can’t get enough of grandma Salma
The first glimpse of Hayek with her grandson quickly sent fans into the comments.
Some followers couldn’t help but point out the family resemblance, with one writing, “The baby looks exactly like grandpa…just sayin’…”
Another joked, “That is a strong nose that runs in the family lol.”
Others were more focused on Hayek’s new status.
“Who wouldn’t like Salma Hayek to be her/his grandma? No matter if genetically or not,” one fan wrote.
Instagram followers also embraced the nickname, with one commenting, “Love ❤️ the name so cute and Panchito approves!”
Another wrote, “He looks identical to his pap @salmahayek.”
And one delighted fan summed up Hayek’s new role with just two words: “More like a Glama❤️.”
After years of watching her children grow up, Hayek now has a completely new milestone to celebrate.
Her daughter Valentina is already an adult, her stepchildren have entered new stages of their own lives, and now the family has welcomed its youngest generation.
For Hayek, it seems the transition into grandmotherhood has already begun — and little Panchito has apparently won her heart completely.
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