Simply from the English word myrtle for the evergreen shrub, ultimately from Greek μυρτος (myrtos). It was first used as a given name in the 19th century, at the same time many other plant and flower names were coined. The name is simply taken from myrtle, the word for an evergreen shrub or a small tree. It has star-like flowers and its leaves contain fragrant essential oil. In the Mediterranean, it is symbolic of love and immortality. In many European countries, myrtle is used in a wedding bouquet. The word itself is ultimately derived from Greek myrtos.
