The name "Tuco"

[Cusser]

Is Tuco a real Mexican name, or made up for the film.  I did a Google search and found that "tuco-tucos" are South American rat-like rodents http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Tuco-tuco, any connection there????

"Known as the rat !!!"

[Dust Devil]

I've often wondered about that too, but since my knowledge of Central and South American naming customs is limited, and nobody asked that question until now, I thought it actually might be a real name.

But the connection makes sense.

[Groggy]

Tico is a fairly common Hispanic name from my recollection. Perhaps Tuco is a variant.

Isn't it implied in the film that Tuco is itself an alias, rather than a real name? If so, that would explain it. Not unlike El Indio in FAFDM, or Mapache ("raccoon") in The Wild Bunch.

On the other hand... looking on Wikipedia, Tuco (single rather than Tuco-tuco) is a species of owl.

[Groggy]

Note: I put Tuco in a free-translation website and its apparent translation is "Maimed".

[Cusser]

Isn't it implied in the film that Tuco is itself an alias, rather than a real name?

His brother the priest calls him "Tuco".

[Groggy]

True.

If "maimed" is the translation of Tuco, I don't see how that really applies to the character.

[Smokey]

Don't they say his whole name one time when they're "hanging" him?

[Novecento]

Is Tuco a real Mexican name, or made up for the film.  I did a Google search and found that "tuco-tucos" are South American rat-like rodents http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Tuco-tuco, any connection there?

"Known as the rat !!!"

Don't they say his whole name one time when they're "hanging" him?

Tuco Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez...known as "the Rat"

[stoicamerican]

Is Tuco a real Mexican name, or made up for the film.  I did a Google search and found that "tuco-tucos" are South American rat-like rodents http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Tuco-tuco, any connection there?

"Known as the rat !!!"

There might be some kind of connection between "tuco-tucos" and Eastwood's line "Known as The Rat...", but it's worth noting that in the undubbed Italian version, Tuco is referred to as "Il Porco", which (do I even need to say it?) translates to "The Pig."

[Groggy]

As stated above, Tuco is Spanish for "maimed", and Tuco is also the name of an owl and several cities in South America. Although it's possible (and vaguely appropriate, although said rodents are more like gophers than "true" rats), I'm skeptical of the idea that Leone had much knowledge of South American rodents.

[stoicamerican]

As stated above, Tuco is Spanish for "maimed", and Tuco is also the name of an owl and several cities in South America. Although it's possible (and vaguely appropriate, although said rodents are more like gophers than "true" rats), I'm skeptical of the idea that Leone had much knowledge of South American rodents.

Agreed. I wasn't advocating for the connection between Tuco and some kind of rodent, I was just pointing out that if there was some kind of connection between Tuco's name and the "tuco-tuco", then it would have to be a post-dub kind of thing because in Italian Tuco's nickname is "The Pig".

[Novecento]

As stated above, Tuco is Spanish for "maimed"...

Where did you find that definition? I don't think it is correct.

Agreed. I wasn't advocating for the connection between Tuco and some kind of rodent, I was just pointing out that if there was some kind of connection between Tuco's name and the "tuco-tuco", then it would have to be a post-dub kind of thing because in Italian Tuco's nickname is "The Pig".

I think there may be a connection. Seeing as "Tuco" doesn't appear to mean anything in Italian, they don't have to stick with a rodent-like definition.

[Groggy]

Freetranslation.com.

[stoicamerican]

A quick look at Wiktionary reveals no entry for the word "tuco".
Inspiration struck me and I googled "Spanish names Tuco". One website stated it was a variation of Alberto (plausible enough). Another stated that it was a name of uncertain origin, perhaps meaning "The Ugly One" (also plausible), and (here's the funny part) perhaps deriving from a species of owl or rodent.
This is an edit: forgot to mention, the site also stated that the name was of South American origin.

My best guess for all of this is that Leone (or whoever conceived of Tuco's name) knew it was a unique variant name (I'm guessing they wanted a unique name, although when you consider that Eastwood wasn't named, maybe they didn't give a shit).

[Groggy]

The Ugly One seems promising to me.