Suri Noelle, Daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Legally Drops Cruise Surname Amid College Transition

Suri Noelle, the 20‑year‑old daughter of former Hollywood couple Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, has officially changed her legal surname from Cruise to Noelle, according to voter registration records in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The change coincides with her enrollment at Carnegie Mellon University, where she is pursuing a degree in the arts.

The name change was first reported by Page Six, which cited state voter records showing a “Suri Noelle” with the same birth date—April 2006—as the former Suri Cruise. The records also list the same age and place of birth, confirming that the individual is the same person. The exact date of the legal change is not publicly disclosed, but the registration appears to have been filed before the start of the academic year.

Suri was born on April 2006, a year after her parents began dating. The couple married in November 2006 and announced their daughter’s birth the following month. They divorced in 2012, after which Suri has lived primarily with her mother. The decision to adopt her mother’s middle name, Noelle, was noted by People in 2024 when she used the surname at her high‑school graduation.

In a 2023 interview with Glamour, Holmes explained that protecting her daughter’s privacy has been a priority. She said, “What has been really important for me with my daughter, because she was so visible at a young age, is I really like to protect her.” Holmes added that she is grateful to be a parent and that Suri is “an incredible person.” The interview did not mention the name change, but the timing suggests it may be part of a broader effort to shield Suri from media attention.

Suri’s current activities include a role in the Pittsburgh production of Midsummer!, a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The play, written by Scottish playwright David Greig and featuring songs by Gordon McIntyre, is staged by an independent organization separate from the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. According to Broadway World, Noelle will perform alongside other college students later this week. The production’s website lists the performance dates and ticket information.

Carnegie Mellon University, located in Allegheny County, is a private research institution known for its strong arts and engineering programs. The university’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts that attracts students from across the country. Suri’s enrollment at CMU places her in an environment that supports both academic and artistic development.

The name change has attracted attention from entertainment media. Fox News, ABC News, and other outlets have reported on the voter registration update. ABC News has reached out to representatives for Cruise and Holmes for comment, but no response has been received to date. The change is the latest public move by Suri to establish an identity separate from her father’s celebrity legacy.

While the legal name change is now official, the broader implications for Suri’s public profile remain uncertain. The move may reduce the frequency of paparazzi attention, but it also signals a shift in how she chooses to present herself in the public eye. Her upcoming stage work in Pittsburgh suggests a focus on her craft rather than media exposure.

At present, the only confirmed facts are the voter registration records, the reported use of the surname Noelle at her high‑school graduation, and her participation in the Midsummer! production. No statements have been released by Cruise or Holmes regarding the name change. The next publicly available update will likely come from Suri’s university or from the theater production’s promotional materials.

In summary, Suri Noelle has legally dropped the Cruise surname, adopted her mother’s middle name, and is continuing her education and acting career at Carnegie Mellon University and in Pittsburgh’s theater scene. The change reflects a personal decision to protect privacy and to forge an independent identity, while her public appearances remain limited to her academic and artistic pursuits.