I am trying to figure out what some names mean...?

Question

I would like to know the origins and what these names mean:

Kathleen

Randy

Ryan

Jennifer

Gabrielle

i dont need ALL of them, but if you happen to know one or another, that would be nice, and as extra incentive, the person with the most names and definitions/origins can have best answer

Answer 1

Here are the names with basic meanings.  The links will take you to articles that have a lot more detailed info about each name.

Kathleen: pure http://wiki.name.com/en/Kathleen

Randy: protector http://wiki.name.com/en/Randy

Ryan: little king http://wiki.name.com/en/Ryan

Jennifer: fair one http://wiki.name.com/en/Jennifer

Gabrielle: God is my strength http://wiki.name.com/en/Gabriel http://wiki.name.com/en/Gabriella

Answer 2

Kathleen: Anglicized form of CAITLÍN (English)

Randy: Short form of RANDALL or RANDOLF (Englsih)

Ryan: From an Irish surname which was derived from Ó Riain meaning "descendent of Rian". The given name Rian probably means "little king" (from Irish rí "king" combined with a diminutive suffix).

Jennifer: From a Cornish form of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar (see GUINEVERE). This name has only been common outside of Cornwall since the beginning of the 20th century, after it was featured in George Bernard Shaw's play 'The Doctor's Dilemma' (1906).

Gebrille: there's different orgins...(Dutch Hungarian etc)

Answer 3

According to http://www.behindthename.com/

Kathleen goes back to Katherine, which is "From the Greek name Αικατερινη (Aikaterine). The etymology is debated: it could derive from the earlier Greek name ‘Εκατερινη (Hekaterine), which came from ‘εκατερος (hekateros) "each of the two"; it could derive from the name of the goddess HECATE; it could be related to Greek αικια (aikia) "torture"; or it could be from a Coptic name meaning "my consecration of your name". In the early Christian era it became associated with Greek καθαρος (katharos) "pure", and the Latin spelling was changed from Katerina to Katharina to reflect this.

If Randy is short for Randall, it relates to a shield.

Ryan is little king.

Jennifer has roots meaning fair, white, and smooth.

And Gabrielle is the female version of strong man of God.

Answer 4

Kathleen means: Pure/irish

Randy means: Diminutive Form Of Randall Or Miranda/english

Ryan means: king/irish

Jennifer means: Fair Phantom Or White Wave/English

Gabrielle means: Feminine Form Of Gabriel /french

There you go!!