Random name picker

How to pick a random name

1. Paste the names into the box, one per line.
2. Choose how many names to pick at once.
3. Press Pick to see the result straight away.
4. Turn on "remove picked names" if nobody should be picked twice.

When to use a picker instead of a wheel

The wheel of names is great when you want a bit of theatre. The random name picker is for when you just want the answer. There is no animation, so it suits long lists, repeated picks and moments when you are short on time, such as choosing three volunteers at the end of a meeting or drawing five winners from a long list of competition entries.

Each pick uses your browser's cryptographic random generator, so every name on the list has the same chance.

Picking several names at once

Set the number to pick and you get that many different names in one go, never the same name twice in a single draw. This is useful for:

• Drawing first, second and third prize in a raffle or giveaway
• Choosing a small group of pupils for a task or a reading group
• Selecting reviewers, judges or a rota of volunteers
• Picking a few people from a long WhatsApp group for a challenge

If your list contains the same name twice, perhaps because someone entered twice, the picker treats each line as a separate entry. Tidy up duplicates first if each person should have one chance.

History and removing picked names

The history shows every pick in order, which is handy if you need to read back who was chosen or settle a "was I picked already" argument. Turn on "remove picked names" and each person drops off the list once chosen, so you can work round a whole class or team over a lesson or a week. Copy the results to paste into an email or the class chat.

Names are processed in your browser and not sent anywhere, which matters when the list is a class register or staff list.

Questions people ask