Paste your names, press the button and get a fair, random winner.
Uses your browser's cryptographic random generator with an unbiased method. Your list is never uploaded or stored.
Choosing who goes first, who wins the raffle or who answers the next question is easier when nobody can accuse you of favouritism. This random name picker draws one or more names from your list using your browser's built in cryptographic random number generator, so every name has exactly the same chance of being chosen. Nothing you type is stored or uploaded.
Quick answer: A random name picker gives every name the same chance of being drawn: number of winners ÷ number of names. With 8 names and 1 winner, each name has a 12.5% chance. For several winners, the list is shuffled with the unbiased Fisher and Yates method, so nobody can be chosen twice in the same draw.
In This Guide
What Is a Random Name Picker?
A random name picker is a digital version of pulling names out of a hat. You paste a list, press a button and the tool selects a name at random. It does the same job as a name wheel without the spinning delay, and it can draw several winners at once without picking the same entry twice.
The chance of any name being picked is number of winners ÷ number of names. With 8 names and 1 winner, each name has a 12.5% chance. When you draw several winners, the tool shuffles the list and takes names from the top, so nobody can be chosen twice in the same draw.
How Do You Use the Random Name Picker?
Step 1: Add Your Names
Type or paste your names, one per line or separated by commas, and blank lines and extra spaces are ignored. Type or paste your names, one per line or separated by commas. Blank lines and extra spaces are ignored. Repeated entries count as separate tickets, which is useful when someone has bought more than one raffle ticket.
Step 2: Choose How Many Winners
Set the number of names to draw in one go, for example 3 for first, second and third prize. The winners are listed in the order they were drawn, so the first name shown takes first prize.
Step 3: Remove Names After Picking
Tick the box to take each winner out of the list, so the next draw only uses the people who are left. This is ideal for working through a class register or a rota. If you need unique codes rather than names, the UUID generator creates them in the same browser based way, with nothing sent to a server.
Step 4: Pick and Review the Results
Press Pick a name to make the draw. The winner appears with a short animation, and every draw is added to the history table with its number. For fresh gaming handles or team names, the username generator creates random ideas from scratch rather than picking from a list. Use Clear history to start again.
What Are the Odds of Being Picked by a Random Name Picker?
| Names in the list | Winners drawn | Chance for each name |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1 | 20% |
| 8 | 1 | 12.5% |
| 10 | 1 | 10% |
| 30 | 1 | 3.3% |
| 30 | 3 | 10% |
| 100 | 5 | 5% |
With 10 names and 1 winner, each name has a 10% chance of being picked, the same as with 30 names and 3 winners, while 100 names and 5 winners gives 5%. For a fair draw, show the list to everyone before you press the button and keep the history table on screen afterwards. The tool draws winners with the Fisher and Yates shuffle, an unbiased method that gives every possible order of names the same probability, so the result cannot lean towards the top or bottom of your list.
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How we checked this tool: the Tools Veria Editorial Team built this tool by hand, checked it against the official rules or published standards where they apply, and tested it against worked examples. Results are estimates for planning, not personal financial or tax advice. Read our editorial policy and disclaimer, or report an error.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the random name picker truly random?
It uses crypto.getRandomValues, the cryptographic random generator built into your browser, with a method that avoids bias. Every name has an equal chance in every draw.
Can I pick more than one name at once?
Yes. Set the number of winners and the tool draws that many different entries in one go, listed in the order they were drawn.
How do I stop the same person being picked twice?
Tick Remove winners from the list after each pick. Each winner is taken out, so later draws only include the names that are left.
Can I paste names separated by commas?
Yes. Names can be on separate lines, separated by commas or a mix of both.
Is my list of names saved anywhere?
No. The list stays in your browser and disappears when you close the page, so nothing is stored or uploaded.
Can I use it as a name wheel in class?
Yes. Show it on the board, paste the class list and press Pick a name. Removing winners lets every pupil have a turn before anyone is picked again.