In Assassin's Creed II, the game's protagonist, Auditore, is named Ezio.
Ezio Auditore da Firenze is a Florentine nobleman who becomes an Assassin after his family is targeted by political enemies. The game follows his transformation from a young man in Renaissance Italy into a highly trained member of the Brotherhood. Its story spans several decades and visits cities including Florence, Venice, and Rome.
Ezio is not the same character as Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, the lead of the first game. He is also distinct from Desmond Miles, the modern-day character whose genetic memories are accessed through the Animus. Ezio's popularity led to his return in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood and Assassin's Creed: Revelations.
The name Ezio comes from the game's Italian setting and helps distinguish the character from other Auditore family members, including his sister Claudia and his brother Federico.