Most Arabs, especially those in the more prominent families are interchangeably addressed by their name, as well as either as the father of their first born, as in Abu Mazen, or as the son of a their father, as in ibn-Saud, if the father was well-regarded.
While I lived in the Arab world, at times I'd hear my father referred to not by his American name, but as Abu Yusuf, by friends who knew both me and my brother Joseph.
The nom de guerre crap is the result of an ignorant journalist having a vivid imagination.
Very interesting. Thanks for clearing that up.