Random name picker
Paste the names, press spin, and get a fair random pick for classrooms, giveaways, secret Santa or who presents first.
- 100% free
- Runs in your browser
- No uploads
Press Spin, or click the wheel. Space and Enter work too.
Your list is saved in this browser only, so it's still here if you reload.
- Runs on your deviceEvery tool works directly in your browser. No files are uploaded.
- Your privacy mattersYour files never leave your device, so there's nothing for us to store.
- No limitsUse any tool as much as you need. No daily caps, no waiting.
- Completely freeNo signup and no trial to cancel. Ads keep the tools free.
How to pick a random name
- Add the names. Type one per line, or paste a column from a spreadsheet or a class list.
- Spin. Press Spin or the wheel. The picked name is announced and shown in full below the wheel.
- Pick again or remove. Switch on Remove each winner to draw more names without repeats.
Ways teachers and teams use it
| Use | How to set it up |
|---|---|
| Cold-calling students fairly | Class list, Remove each winner on, so everyone gets a turn before anyone repeats |
| Giveaway winner | Paste entrants' names once each; spin once, ideally on a screen share so everyone sees it |
| Presentation or stand-up order | Press Shuffle and read the list top to bottom |
| Splitting into teams | Shuffle, then take the first half as team A and the rest as team B |
| Secret Santa draw | Spin with Remove on; each person draws in turn and skips their own name |
Keeping the draw fair
- Check the list for duplicates before a giveaway: a name listed twice has twice the chance.
- Decide before you spin how many names you'll draw and whether winners are removed.
- For very large lists, such as thousands of entries, number the entries and use the random number generator instead.
Frequently asked questions
Is the name picker truly random?
The pick uses your browser's cryptographically secure random number generator (crypto.getRandomValues), the same source used to make passwords, and every name gets exactly the same chance. The spin is just the animation that shows the result.
How do I pick several names without repeats?
Switch on Remove each winner from the list. Each spin then removes the name that was picked, so nobody is chosen twice, and you can keep spinning until you have as many as you need.
Can I paste names from Excel or Google Sheets?
Yes. Copy a column and paste it into the list: each cell becomes one name. Blank lines are ignored.
How do I make a random order, like a presentation order?
Press Shuffle to put the whole list in random order in one go, or spin repeatedly with Remove each winner switched on to draw names one at a time.
Is my list of names saved or uploaded?
It's saved in this browser only so it's still there next time, and it's kept separately from the wheel spinner's list. Nothing is uploaded. Use Clear saved list to delete it.