Adam Looks For His Mate (Helper) Amongst The Animals

Consider the creation narrative, in which god creates Adam and for several days allows Adam to look for a mate amongst the animals;

Genesis 2:

18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.


Was Adam really made to look for a helper from amongst the animals? Was there any chance of him finding a mate amongst the animals.  Was the creation of woman, Eve, an afterthought, a change of mind?


between, how long would it have taken Adam to name all the beasts of the earth? 1 day, 1 week, 1 year, 10 years?