Since the last big server merge I've been waiting for a character name to be freed up. I lost it to a level 20 trooper that hasn't been on in YEARS. But the character still exists, not being played. I had to have an alt code in that characters name and later when they allowed a space in the name, I gave the character a last name.
While I suspect the name will still be taken after the merge, I'm sure there are some names out there that are inactive across multiple servers that will become free because of the 90 day wipe.