how long does it take for a deleted account name to become available again?

[Bitt Zane]

if user deletes accountname X, how much time must pass before accountname X can be assigned again? i know there's a period of time account names are reserved after deletion, in order to prevent fraud or something. thank you!

[Ansariel Hiller]

Short answer: Never. Once taken names cannot be used again.

[valerie Inshan]

Where did you hear there was a period of time for such a thing? Once deleted, account names are never reassigned. A name can only created and used once by only one person. For instance, if I delete my account, "valerie Inshan" will never be available for anybody.

However, under certain scrict conditions, someone can share or transfer his account, in case of decease for example:

http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Linden_Lab_Official:Sharing_or_transferring_Second_Life_accounts