Random Name Picker

What this generator does

Draws one or more names at random from a list you paste in, with the option to take each pick out of the pool so nobody is chosen twice. It is the plain-text counterpart to the wheel spinner: the same fair draw without the animation, which makes it the better choice for long lists and for anywhere the result matters more than the ceremony.

How to use this tool

1. Type or paste one name per line.
2. Choose how many names to pick.
3. Optionally remove picked names so they can't be picked again.
4. Press pick to get your result, and reroll any time.

Understanding the controls

Names

One name per line. Blank lines are ignored. A name entered twice counts as two separate chances, so check for accidental repeats when pasting from a register or a spreadsheet.

How many to pick

Draws this many names in one press. Picking three at once is not the same as pressing the button three times unless picks are removed, because without removal the same name can be drawn more than once.

Remove picks so they can't repeat

Takes each drawn name out of the pool, so repeated draws work through the list without anyone appearing twice. This changes the odds for everyone left as the list shrinks, which is exactly what you want for 'pick a different person each turn'.

Worked examples

Cold-calling in a lesson without picking the same hands

Paste the register, turn on 'remove picked names', and pick once per question. Everyone is asked once before anyone is asked twice.

Choosing four people for a task

Set the number to pick to 4. All four come out in one go, with nobody appearing twice.

Common use cases

• Picking a volunteer or student at random
• Choosing a raffle or giveaway winner
• Assigning a random task owner
• Deciding who goes first in a game or meeting

How this generator works

Each line becomes one entry. A name is chosen with your browser's Web Crypto random generator, and when 'remove picked names' is on the chosen name is taken out of the pool before the next pick — so the list works its way down without repeats, the same as drawing names from a hat and not putting them back. Nothing is uploaded: the list stays in the page and is not sent to a server.

Randomness and fairness

Names are drawn using your browser's cryptographic random number generator. With removal on, the draw is a partial shuffle, so every name is equally likely to be chosen and equally likely to be chosen first. With removal off, each draw is independent and a name that has just been picked is no less likely to come up again — the tool has no memory of previous draws.

For how randomness is produced across the whole site, see how Generate Random works.

Limitations and good to know

• Names are not saved between visits. Reloading clears the list, so keep your class or team list in your own file and paste it in each time.
• Two spellings of the same name count as two different entries, and blank lines are ignored.
• Every name has an equal chance. There is no way to make one name more or less likely — for that, use the weighted picker.

Common mistakes

Assuming a name cannot be picked twice in a row

Without removal turned on, it can, and over a lesson or a meeting it will. If you need everyone to have a turn before anyone repeats, turn removal on and keep the tab open.

Privacy and your data

The names you paste stay in your browser. They are not uploaded, not saved between visits, and not written into the page address, so a link you share afterwards contains the tool and nothing about your list. Analytics records that a draw happened and how many names were picked, never the names themselves.

Frequently asked questions

Can the same name be picked twice in a row?

Yes, unless you turn on 'remove picked names'. Each pick is independent by default, so a name can come up again immediately — that is what random means, and it is not a fault. Turn on removal if you want everyone picked once before anyone repeats.

Is my list of names sent anywhere?

No. The list stays in your browser and the picking happens on your device. Names are not transmitted to a server, stored, or included in analytics.