“Recycled” Names

There is no way to request a specific name. If it's showing as in use, then it's somewhere on Microsoft's servers. Gamertags are only freed up if the original owner changes it to something else or if they do not sign in for 5 years (starting in 2016).

to add to smwutches answer just because you search for a name and it doesn't show up doesn't mean it isn't in use

It.just.means it isn't on xbox or just simply you arent spelling it right

Gamertag is the same as GAMERTAG or gamer tag or GamerTag

But.when you are searching you must.be specific with the spelling to add the person as a friend

You will just have to be more.creative if the system says it's taken it is taken

Should.be noted if you have deleted the ms account that doesn't free up the name you just made it harder to recover

I read about names getting recycled if it becomes available will my suffix vanish if the name expires or do i need to change my name and then if it becomes available in the future change to it after that also it was my old account and i got it perma banned
for modding on dungeon defenders i was underage and did not know better. So do they recycle names to banned accounts also if the name gets recycled how will you know will you just be able to search for gamertags and it would not pop up anymore.

I was told the reason I could not make the switch was because of the name being used then changed so it takes time to recycle the name.

Apparently Microsoft stopped recycling old gamertag, because unscrupulous people were selling the names.