Laura Cruz was the original working name for Lara Croft during Tomb Raider’s development.
The character was created at Core Design for the first Tomb Raider game. Early development materials used the name Laura Cruz, which reflected the original concept of a South American female adventurer. The name was later changed to Lara Croft as the character's identity and backstory evolved.
The final name helped establish Lara as a British aristocratic adventurer, a characterization that became central to the series. The change also made the character more suitable for the British setting and marketing approach associated with the game.
Laura Cruz is not an alternate name used throughout the released games. It is specifically a development name, which is why it can be overlooked in ordinary character biographies. Lara Croft became the official identity before the first game reached the public in 1996.