Manfred Krebernik [de] and Jan Lisman suggest that Ennugi's name is a shortened form of the theonym Enlunugid, possibly "the lord who lets nobody return", known from the Early Dynastic Zame Hymns, as well as the Fara and Abu Salabikh god lists.
[1] However, despite the similarity of the names he most likely was not the same deity as Ennugigi, who is attested in a number of sources, including the myth Nergal and Ereshkigal, as one of the gatekeepers of the underworld.
[5] He is also mentioned in the text Lipit-Ishtar and the Plow as one of multiple deities partaking in fieldworks, the other ones being Ninurta, Lisin, Suen, Nuska and Ninamaškuga.
[18] In the incantation series Šurpu, Ennugi appears alongside Mandanu, a god regarded as the guzalû of Marduk.
[22] Jeremy Black and Anthony Green proposed that Ennugi might have been considered analogous to Gugalanna, the husband of Ereshkigal, because the latter's name can be translated as "canal inspector of An".
[24] It is possible that in reality the term gallȗ is meant,[15] in this context to be understood as a designation of an officer of the divine assembly.
[25] Marcos Such-Gutiérrez additionally notes a single theophoric name invoking Ennugi, Ur-Ennugi, is already present in a text from Adab from the Old Akkadian period.
[28] Andrew R. George notes that this ceremonial name can be translated as "house of the shackle which holds in check," and also concludes that it was likely located in Nippur.
[29] The temple of Mandanu in Babylon bore the same name, possibly due to him fulfilling an analogous position in the court of Marduk as Ennugi did in Enlil's.
[34] In the incantation series Šurpu, Ennugi is implored to bind Asakku, which according to Wilfred G. Lambert reflects a tradition where he, rather than Ninurta, was responsible for vanquishing this demon.