Named after the Roman messenger god Mercurius, from 'merx' (merchandise) — namesake of both planet and metal.
A heavy, silvery-white metallic element that is liquid at room temperature; also the planet closest to the Sun.
From Latin Mercurius, the Roman god of trade, communication, travellers, and thieves, and divine messenger of the gods. Etymology disputed: most likely from merx, mercis (merchandise, goods for trade), from a root related to PIE *merk- (to seize, grab). An alternative connects it to a root meaning boundary marker — Hermes in Greek
Every planet in our solar system is named after a Roman god, and every day of the week in French reflects the same system: 'mercredi' (Wednesday) is Mercury's day, just as English 'Wednesday' is Woden's day — Mercury and Woden being Roman and Germanic equivalents of the same divine archetype.