Utnapishtim is the ancient Mesopotamian flood hero most closely parallel to Noah in the Epic of Gilgamesh.
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Utnapishtim is warned by the god Ea to build a boat and preserve life from a devastating flood. He loads the vessel with family members, craftsmen, animals, and provisions. After the waters recede, he sends out birds to discover whether the land has emerged.
The parallel with Noah’s Ark includes a divine warning, a large survival vessel, a catastrophic flood, bird tests, and a landing after the waters fall. The stories are not identical: the names, gods, narrative details, and theological meanings differ. Utnapishtim’s account is part of a Mesopotamian literary tradition that predates the surviving biblical manuscripts.
Another related Mesopotamian flood figure is Atrahasis, whose story appears in the Atrahasis Epic. Utnapishtim is the specific name used in the Epic of Gilgamesh, making him the precise answer to this question.