History of the star: One of the Pleiades in Taurus, or Seven Sisters. Merope often is considered the Lost Pleiad, because, having married a mortal, the crafty Sisyphus, she hid her face in shame when she thought other sisters' alliances with the gods, and realized that she had thrown herself away. She seems, however, to have recovered her equanimity, being now much brighter than some of the others. The name itself signifies "Mortal." This star is enveloped in a faintly extended, triangular, nebulous haze, visually discovered by Tempel in October, 1859; and there is a small, distinct nebula, discovered by Barnard in November, 1890, close by Merope, almost hidden in its radiance, although intrinsically very bright.

[Star Names, Their Lore and Meaning, Richard Hinchley Allen, 1889] 

See Alcyone the chief star in the Pleiades for astrological interpretations.