What is the real name of Voltaire?

François-Marie Arouet known by his nom de plume Voltaire, was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit, his criticism of Christianity, especially the Catholic Church, and his advocacy of freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and separation of church and state. He wrote more than 20,000 letters and more than 2,000 books and pamphlets.