@badb I don't necessarily think fadas are automatically out in this case. Some names like Seán are only spelled correctly in Irish if there is a fada, but I think they are very recognised by English speakers so would still fit the bill. I definitely agree for less well known names, as non-Irish speakers may not alter the vowel sound accordingly if they don't know how the fada works, but I think for names like Dónall, maybe Rónán etc., it's nice to have the fada to be correct but doesn't confuse pronunciation for non-Irish speakers.
Perhaps I am way off on this, so willing to be corrected if I am assuming it is easier than it is!
@Tmnmpa1
Also, I think it is worth considering exactly what you mean by Irish names: Irish language names or names from Ireland or both?
I only say that because Rory is an Irish name as in a name from Ireland, because one of the roots of the name is the Irish language name Ruairí/Ruaidhrí; it's not an Irish language name though. (For the record, I love all versions). Similar is Conor, which is Irish but not Irish language (from Conchobhar/Conchúr- definitely not phonetic!).
I'd prefer to use the Irish language versions of names myself if I was specifically looking for an Irish name to honour my heritage, but I would disagree with some of the statements that other names above are not Irish simply because they are not Irish language; if they have evolved in Ireland out of Irish language names, they are still Irish to me, more than they are anything else anyway.
For example, to me Meave is still an Irish name even though it is an angliscied version spelled according to English phonetics. I prefer and would choose to use Méabh, but the respelling with a v doesn't suddenly make it a name from elsewhere or without ancient roots in Ireland.
Deciding whether it is important to you have have the Irish language spelling or not may help you narrow down or open up possibilities of more names, so it could be helpful. I'm not sure if all that makes sense, but I hope so, and if so, I hope it is in some way helpful!
Also, I have a very random name from another language (not English or Irish) that is easily pronounced when looked at by (most!) English speakers but is in no way the instinctive spelling for them, so I am one of the people who has spent my life saying "Name, that's spelt N-A-M-E." Sure, it's not as easy as being called Jane or Jack, but I wouldn't trade it and lose the lovely cultural and personal reasons my parents chose my name. No one has ever spelt my name correctly without prompting, but it's easy for people to learn how to say and spell someone's name when told and rude not to. I met a lovely new colleague from Poland recently and had to learn how to say and spell her name; people should and will be willing to do it for Irish names too, especially if you are making it easier already for them by choosing a name that is easy to pronounce on sight!
Maybe I am ranting now - I have certainly digressed hugely - but am genuinely trying to be helpful and also massively procrastinating as I have loads of work I need to get through this afternoon.
Please just ignore all of this if it is irrelevant or unhelpful!