I found this nugget from Wikipedia [0] quite funny.
> In an answer on the Mercurial mailing list, Olivia Mackall explained how the name "Mercurial" was chosen:
> Shortly before the first release, I read an article about the ongoing Bitkeeper debacle that described Larry McVoy as mercurial (in the sense of 'fickle'). Given the multiple meanings, the convenient abbreviation, and the good fit with my pre-existing naming scheme (see my email address), it clicked instantly. Mercurial is thus named in Larry's honor. I do not know if the same is true of Git.
[0] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercurial
