Merel

This name derives from the Old French “esmeraude,” from the Latin “esmaraldus, smaragdus,” meaning “bright green precious stone,” which in turn derives from the Greek “máragdos (μᾰìραγδος) smáragdos (σμᾰìραγδος),” meaning “green gem, emerald.” Emerald is a gemstone, and a variety of the mineral beryl colored green by trace amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium. Emerald is regarded as the traditional birthstone for May, as well as the traditional gemstone for the astrological signs of Taurus, Gemini, and sometimes Cancer. One of the quainter anecdotes on emeralds was by the 16th-century historian Brantôme, who referred to the many impressive emeralds the Spanish under Cortez had brought back to Europe from Latin America.