It was much the fashion, especially with German and Dutch authors who wrote in Latin, to convert their names into a Greek or Latin equivalent, or to give them a classic turn as:

The real name of Agricola, the reformer and friend of Luther, was Schneider (a tailor). This was assuming another name.

Bucer was a Dominican and friend of Luther, whose real name was Kuhhorn (cow-horn), of which bucer is the Greek.

Desiderius Erasmus was the assumed name of a Dutchman whose real name was Gheraerd Gheraerd, of which Desiderius is the Latin and Erasmos the Greek.

Melanchthon was one of Luther's friends, whose real name was Schwartzerde (black earth). Melanchthon is the Greek for a "heap of black earth."

Cecolampadius is the Latinized name of Johan Hausschein, the reformer.

Paracelsus is Graeco-Latin for Bombast. The name was assumed by A. T. Bombast.

Porphyry is the Grecized name of Malk, a disciple of Plotin.

Regiomontanus, a Latinized form of Konigsberger. Johann Muller called himself Konigsberg in Franconia.

Stobaeus is Stubbs Latinized.