Fresno means ash.
I inquired the meaning of "Los Gatos," and was kindly informed it was "The Gates," but it really is "The Cats."
Goleta, the name of another town, means schooner.
The Spanish j nearly always has the sound of h.
Jacinto, Hyacinth.
José, Joseph.
Lago is lake; pond, laguna; and for a little lake the pretty name lagunita. "Lagunita Rancho" is the name of an immense fruit ranch in Vacaville—and, by the way, vaca is cow.
Madre is mother; nevada, snowy.
San Luis Obispo is San Luis the Bishop.
El Paso is The Pass.