Guild Wars 2

I’m in search of a name. However, that name is on another account, and I do not know if the person that owns it still plays – or has played in a number of months or years.

The question is, would it be possible for me to unlock that name for use? I have no problem using the paid name change, I’m just curious if it’s possible for me to have it made available.

I’ve done a bit of digging on the subject, but I have yet to find any information regarding it.

I believe the only way to get a name is wait x time after the owner deletes that toon. I doubt there will be any name sweeps like other games have done. After all one of the upsides to this game is walking away for a few months or a year and coming back later. Loosing a name would break that.

Only hope is if person own name delete character with it or use name change contract. Anet do not make name available that some other player have. Here is what Gaile say.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/support/support/Requesting-a-Taken-Name/first#post4248872

Gaile Gray.6029:

We do not take character or display or guild names away from valid accounts. Someone may step away and return to the game later, so the names must stay in place.

I typed up a very wordy and eloquent post, but the forum ate it. So here’s the cliffnotes version.

Try alternate spellings or other variants of the name. I’ve been in situations where I’ve been very attached to a particular name, but I’ve learned to make compromises. Anet can’t do anything to help you.

No to taking other peoples names. Get creative.

What is the name you’re after? Maybe try messaging them and find out if it’s a char they don’t use any more

The only way you can get the name is if the person using it deletes the character or changes their name. If they do that it will be reserved for their account for 24 hours (in case they want to re-make the character) and then available for anyone to use. Only the owner and Anet can change names and Anet won’t take names away from existing characters for other people to use, even if the account has been inactive for months or years.

So the only realistic option is to send a message to the person who has it and ask if they would be willing to give it up. Maybe offer to gift them a name change contract if they want to keep the character. But if they refuse there is nothing you can do.

Whether that would work depends on the person and the name. If it was me for example it’d depend on which character it was. Any of my permanent characters are absolutely out of the question because I spent a lot of time coming up with names for them and it’s as much a part of the character as the profession and appearance. But I also make ‘temporary’ characters on a regular basis (temporary here meaning I don’t intend to keep them forever, they can last anywhere from a day to over a year) who are much more likely to have desirable names because I’m more free with them so I might name them after a character from another franchise or as a reference to something in real life. And if someone wanted one of those names I’d have no problem changing it or deleting the character, as long as it didn’t cost me anything.