How did mercury get its name?

Like all the planets, Mercury is named after one of the Roman gods, which were based on the gods worshipped by the Ancient Greeks. The Roman god Mercury was the son of Maia Maiestas and Jupiter in Roman mythology, and most of his aspects were based on the Greek god Hermes. read more

Like all the planets, Mercury is named after one of the Roman gods, which were based on the gods worshipped by the Ancient Greeks. read more

The Romans knew of seven bright objects in the sky: the Sun, the Moon, and the five brightest planets. They named them after their most important gods. Because Mercury was the fastest planet as it moved around the Sun, it was named after the Roman messenger god Mercury. Mercury was also the god of travelers. read more

The planet Mercury derived its name from the Roman god Mercury by virtue of being the fastest planet that travels across the sky. Due to Mercury's proximity to the sun, the planet is able to revolve quickly around the massive heavenly body. read more