otaku_emmy said:
All you have to do is Ctrl+F on the first page.

I don't like using the tags (it clutters up the lists), and some characters that are claimed aren't even on here.
Ctrl+F on the first page - doh - that is how I search for taken characters. Using the tags standardizes the name format and spelling - useful with or without the hotlink. Using tag hotlinks highlights the names from other text and also makes it easy for others to jump to images of the character if they don't recognize the name, to find the series from which the character comes.

Of course if there are no images on the site, there will not be an official tag - teh