Aesop

Aesop = a variant of an epithet of Greek origin, "aithiops" which in turn means "burned", or "of a burnt visage" (see the word origin for Ethiopian). Aesop was of African origin and so the name is actually a descriptor of his physical appearance, not his real name.

The name AESOP is almost certainly derived from Ancient Greek "Aithiops" meaning ‘burnt-face' (aithein = burn + ops = face), although it was later taken to mean "dark-skinned".