I wanted to use a name for my app but validation told me that the name is already in use. However, that name is not in the app store. If the name is not in the app store, why can't I use the name?
If the name is not in the app store, why can't I use the name?
May be it is the name of an app available only in another region ; hence you don't see it when you query the appstore from your region ?
You should contact Apple support to get clarification.
This is what I received from Apple support: "App names are considered to be in use as soon as an app record is created in App Store Connect. The name is reserved for the localizations that are saved to the app record, and remains reserved while the app is in development. If an app name appears to be in use but the app doesn't appear on the App Store, it's possible that the app isn't released to the App Store yet."