I thought that the names in game were exclusive but when I was checking the ranks of the NoP event I noticed that #2 and #3 ranked players had the same name. They had different point totals but the same name.
I guess my question is are names exclusive (meaning once used they unavailable to anyone) or what is going on?
If you use Unicode characters you can get names that seem similar but are actually different. Software is weird.
in game name can be same with other player
but coalition name is unique.
I know there are at least 2 people in game whose name is Gideon (the confusion got me in a top coalition very quickly back in the day, since I was not the one who frequently topped the leaderboards. That was @Gideon I believe).
I am reasonable certain that there is not any player name exclusivity (unless it was recently implemented).
There is also (sadly) no way to change your in game name either.
i did it.
Care to tell us how you do it? Others might want to follow suit.
Names are not exclusive. I have 2 alts with the same name as my main.
You can get your name changed by contacting customer support, but you need to have a valid reason.
In one player’s case; people kept mistaking him for a “she”.
I was able to change an alt my son named on the same grounds. Everyone kept calling me “dude” and referring to me as “he”.
So basically if you just don’t like your name they will probably say no, but if you have a case where you feel harassed or mistaken they will do it.
I complained once as someone copied my in-game name. CS offered to change my name if I wanted to. (I didn’t as my name is amazing… 
). But the possibility is there.
There’s also another Matthew out there, though I’ve no idea what coalition they call home. I just know I’ve run into them multiple times.
I submitted a ticket in August 2017 becoz many people in chat understand that i was female. So, i requested to change my IGN, (my previous IGN was Nissra).
As stated above my doppelgänger is real.
One of my son’s still has the name “Guest” from the default and you see others about… They should let you edit that one later at the very least, it’s probably a mistake!
i believe “Guest” is the most duplicated in game name here.
“Killer” is quite popular too !
If I wasn’t so attached to my name I’d totally copy yours 
Have a soft spot for amphibians. Used to raise toads as a child, had them for years.
Had a super large one, named him Porkchop. Had a trick where if I flipped him on his back and tickled his belly, he’d pee. Was a great squirt-gun to use on my sisters friends. 
I don’t think anyone will ever copy my ign. It’s basically gibberish
Well, mine is the same as here, so it’s.. unlikely.. that there are two people using the same full sentence as username in one word.
I’d have picked an English one if I knew there was an international community behind it. Now the name has to stay..
I had my name changed because it was too long for support for some reason. So now I’m simply, FluffNugget. My edgy emo name is gone. Oddly enough, my previous name is how I show up in my coalition.