Random Name Picker

The random name picker chooses names from your list, one at a time or several at once. Pick 3 names from a class of 30 and each pupil has a 10% chance, with nobody chosen twice. Or tap “Split into teams” and the whole list is shuffled into as many teams as you need. It’s free, and the names never leave your browser.

Picking names

• One name: shown big on screen, with the chance it had: 1 in however many names are on the list.
• Several names: set how many, and they come out in the order drawn. That order is random too, so the first name can be first prize.
• Take picked names off the list: tick this to work through everyone over a lesson or a week without repeats.

Random team generator

Choose the number of teams and press “Split into teams”. The names are shuffled, then dealt round the teams like cards, so teams differ in size by one at most: 23 names into 4 teams gives three teams of 6 and one of 5. There are 126 different ways to split 10 people into two teams of five, so the same teams are unlikely to come up twice.

Use it for five-a-side, pub quiz tables, group projects or deciding who sits where at a wedding without anyone taking it personally.

Why a picker beats pulling names from a hat

Slips of paper fold differently, stick together and sit in clumps at the bottom. Fair, in theory. In practice, the name put in last is often the one near the top. The picker uses your browser’s secure random generator, so every name on the list really does have the same chance. And there’s no counting slips afterwards to check none fell on the floor.

For a single winner with a bit of drama, use the wheel of names. To give out teams or horses in a sweepstake, the sweepstake generator deals entries to people.

Splitting a group into sides instead of picking one name? The random team generator makes random or skill-balanced teams in one click.

Doing a Christmas swap? The Secret Santa generator makes sure nobody draws their own name.