Random Name Picker
Enter names below, then spin the wheel — or switch to team mode to split everyone into random groups.
About this picker
Paste any list — students, coworkers, dinner options, chores — and the wheel gives everyone an equal slice and an equal chance; the result is decided by a random spin, not by where you tap. Tick “remove winner” to raffle prizes one by one without repeats. Team mode shuffles the whole list and deals it into groups like cards, so teams stay fair and sizes differ by at most one person. Everything runs in your browser and your list is never uploaded.
What makes a draw fair
Every name you enter gets an equal slice of the wheel and an equal chance of winning, and the outcome is decided by a random draw rather than by where the pointer happens to sit when you stop looking. That distinction matters: a wheel that landed on whatever was nearest the cursor would look random and would not be.
The remove winner option changes the draw from independent to sequential. With it on, each name can only win once, which is what you want for handing out prizes or assigning tasks. With it off, the same person can come up twice in a row — genuinely possible in a fair draw, and the reason people often suspect a picker of being broken when it is working correctly.
Team mode and why the sizes differ by one
Team mode shuffles the entire list first and then deals it out like cards, one name to each group in turn. That method guarantees two things: the composition is genuinely random, and group sizes can never differ by more than one person. Splitting eleven people into three teams gives four, four and three — there is no arrangement that is more even than that.
Dealing beats the alternative of picking a random person for each slot, which tends to fill the first groups and leave the last one short. If you need to run the split again because someone objects to the pairing, reshuffling costs nothing and produces a completely fresh arrangement.
Practical uses
- Calling on students without falling into the habit of picking the same few hands.
- Drawing raffle or giveaway winners in front of everyone, with the winner removed after each draw.
- Settling who goes first, who does the washing-up or where to eat, without anyone having to decide.
- Splitting a class or a group into project teams that nobody can claim were arranged.
- Everything runs in your browser and nothing you type is sent anywhere, so a list of real names stays on your own device.
Frequently asked questions
Is the wheel really fair?
Yes — every name gets an equal-sized slice, and the outcome is set by a random spin amount generated the moment you click, not by timing or where the wheel started. With 8 names, each has exactly a 1-in-8 chance.
How do I raffle several prizes without repeats?
Tick “Remove winner after spin”. Each spin announces a winner and drops them from the list, so the next spin only includes the remaining names — perfect for 1st/2nd/3rd prize draws.
Is my name list uploaded anywhere?
No. The wheel, the teams and your list all run entirely in your browser — nothing is sent to a server, and the list disappears when you close the page.
How does team mode split people into fair groups?
It shuffles the entire list randomly, then deals the names into teams one by one, like dealing cards. That guarantees team sizes differ by at most one person, and nobody can predict or influence who lands where — handy for group projects, pickup sports and party games.
What's a good way to pick a student to answer in class?
Paste your class list once and spin whenever you need someone. Leave "remove winner" off so every student keeps an equal chance each time, or turn it on so everyone gets exactly one turn before any name repeats. Because the spin is visible, students tend to accept the outcome more readily than a teacher's choice.
Is a spinning wheel fairer than drawing names from a hat?
Statistically both can be fair, but paper draws are easy to get wrong: folded slips stick together, sizes differ, and the mixing is rarely thorough. The digital wheel gives every entry an identical slice, picks the winner with a fresh random number, and lets everyone watch the result happen — no re-draws, no doubts.