Ever since I read the Epic of Gilgamesh, Enkidu as a character has been incredibly fascinating to me. His presence in the story is the catalyst for Gilgamesh becoming a hero rather than a villain, and even after Enkidu dies, his role continues. Enkidu is a narrative ghost haunting Gilgamesh and driving him to seek wisdom and immortality. But it's the way Gilgamesh mourns Enkidu that truly made me like this name. Gilgamesh is told to forget his friend after his death, and Gilgamesh's response is gutting. "My friend who went through everything with me is dead! [...] Enkidu. Enkidu. Gilgamesh called out: Help me. They do not know you as I know you." Before I thought the name interesting, but too rough. But the translation does an amazing job with the rhythm of the lines, it makes the name almost musical like a drum beat, and the roughness of both the name and the surrounding short phrases conveys a great deal of grief and pain. I don't know that I would personally name a child Enkidu, but it is certainly a heavy and beautiful name.
But it's the way Gilgamesh mourns Enkidu that truly made me like this name. Gilgamesh is told to forget his friend after his death, and Gilgamesh's response is gutting. "My friend who went through everything with me is dead! [...] Enkidu. Enkidu. Gilgamesh called out: Help me. They do not know you as I know you."
Before I thought the name interesting, but too rough. But the translation does an amazing job with the rhythm of the lines, it makes the name almost musical like a drum beat, and the roughness of both the name and the surrounding short phrases conveys a great deal of grief and pain.
I don't know that I would personally name a child Enkidu, but it is certainly a heavy and beautiful name.