Random Name Picker
Paste your list, hit the button, get a name. No repeats unless you want them.
Ready when you are
What people use it for
The two biggest uses are classrooms and giveaways, and they pull in opposite directions. Teachers want to get through every name once — cold-calling fairly, assigning presentation order, picking who answers next. Giveaways want the opposite: one draw from the full pool, with everyone equally in it.
That is why the no-repeat option exists and why it is on by default. With it on, each name drops out once drawn, so you work through the list cleanly. Turn it off and every draw goes back to the full list, which is what you want for a prize.
For giveaways specifically, draw in front of people. A visible draw with a short shuffle before the reveal gets accepted; a name that simply appears does not carry the same weight, even when the maths behind it is identical.
Common questions
- Is the name picker actually random?
- Yes. Each draw uses your browser's cryptographic random number generator, so every remaining name has an equal chance and no name is favoured.
- Can I stop the same name being picked twice?
- That is on by default. Each name is removed from the pool once drawn, so you can work through a whole class or team without repeats. Turn it off if you want every draw to use the full list.
- How many names can I add?
- There is no practical limit — paste in a list of several hundred and it will handle it. Very long lists are better shared as plain text than as a link.
- Can I save my list for next time?
- Hit Share link. The whole list is packed into the URL, so bookmarking it brings your list back exactly as you left it. No account needed.
- Is it free for classroom use?
- Yes, completely. There is no signup, and it works on a projector, an interactive whiteboard, or a phone.