I found this bit in Colour of Magic: And i thought: Cully? Who is Cully? Then L-Space told me this: Is that so, or is that a cop out? And if it isn't Rincewinds first name, as i thought upon reading it, what is?
I don't think we've ever been told Rincewind's first name, but I know cully as a term roughly equivalent to 'bloke' - but I think of it as something only old men might say.
Cully dates to the 17th century - Oxford English Dictionary describes it as "informal, archaic a friendly form of address for a man", although I must admit I've only ever heard it used in a very mildly derogatory fashion.
Maybe Rincewind is Rincewinds first name. Alot of people in the books use the old version of naming, ie Name of Place or Name the Job. Like Leonard of Quirm or Hrun the Barbarian. So maybe his full name is Rincewind the Wizzard.
Whilst searching for something else, I discovered that Rincewind's first name might be Churm. Rincewind, it appears, was named (pretty much accidentally) after Churm Rincewind, one of the Seven Red-Bearded Dwarves who accompanied Mr Justice Cocklecarrot in the 'Beachcomer' column that used to feature in the Daily Express. I say accidentally, because it was one of those things which settled in Pterry's subconcious, and it was only later that he realised where the name had come from. It's a bit tenuous, but until we get a definitive statement from The Mathter, I think that's the best we can hope for. For more on the origin of Rincewind's name, see: The Annotated Pratchett File
Regarding Rincewind's first name, I seem to recall from The Last Continent that Rincewind doesn't actually have a last name. I think this was from a conversation between Rincewind and the archchancellor of the Ecksian University, also named Rincewind. Only the Ecksian Rincewind did have a first name.
You're right - p. 373 Corgi paperback: So, he might have one but he doesn't know who it is (his mother ran away before he was born, according to one of the books (CoM?)
Indeed. Though I think it's obvious that Pratchett didn't intend Rincewind to have a first name throughout the later books. Maybe he considered it when he just created the character, I dunno, but his explanation for using the word 'cully' does make sense.
Interestingly (or not as the case may be) In some areas of Northern Ireland a similar name 'cuddy' is used to refer to a girl. I have a friend (believe it or not) who says things like 'Do ya know (insert girls name)?.. ach sheess an awful nice cuddy' (do you know (insert girls name)? well she's a really nice girl. Yes. Where i'm from People can be awful nice, things can be wee little or even tootee...
Well, yes. Any debate on the matter would be a bit silly - "Hmm, here Death refers to Rincewind as 'bloke'. Maybe 'Bloke' is Rincewind's first name?" Given that Rincewind was in the original books, which were satires of the then state of the fantasy genre, I think it's fairly obvious that Rincewind is only supposed to have one name, as usual for such a character. Just as Hrun (or Cohen) the Barbarian only has one name and an appellation, so does Rincewind the Wizzard.
Hmmm... Bloke Rincewind... We should all make an effort to popularise 'Bloke' as a first name! It can't be worse than some of the names produced by celebrity culture...
I'm glad I came across this post. My surname is genuinely Cully. It is of southern Irish origin, and now as far as I know, what you have all said is fine by me irate: I have always been convinced Rincewind's first name is Cully for unique reasons.
