How to use the random name picker
- Type or paste your list into Names (one per line). Blank lines are ignored, and the counter under the box shows how many names the draw will use. A line of comma-separated names counts as one name, so press Split commas and tabs into lines to break it apart.
- Set Number of winners. The default is 1, and a higher number draws that many different names in one pick.
- Tick Remove names after they win to take each winner off the list so the next pick cannot repeat anyone. Tick Ignore duplicate names if a name was entered twice by accident.
- Press Pick a name, or the space bar when no field has focus. The names flash by for under two seconds, then the winners appear. Full screen enlarges the result for a projector, and Reset list restores your starting names and clears Past winners.
How the draw works
Every pick uses your browser's cryptographic random number generator, crypto.getRandomValues, instead of the weaker Math.random. A random 32-bit number cannot be mapped onto 7 names with a simple remainder, because that favors the first few names very slightly. This tool throws away the leftover slice of numbers and tries again (rejection sampling), so every name has exactly the same chance. For several winners it runs a partial Fisher-Yates shuffle, so nobody wins twice in the same draw. The winners are chosen before the flashing starts, so the animation is decoration only.
Worked example with the default list
The default list holds 8 names: Alex, Jordan, Morgan, Taylor, Casey, Riley, Quinn and Sam, and the counter reads 8 names. With Number of winners at 1, each name has a 1 in 8 chance, which is 12.5%. Change it to 3 and the tool shows a numbered list of three different names, so any one name has a 3 in 8 chance, or 37.5%, of being on it. If Remove names after they win is ticked, the counter then reads 5 names and the next pick draws from those five, giving each a 20% chance.
Limits and edge cases
- Each line is its own entry, so listing a person twice gives them two chances. Ignore duplicate names counts them once and treats alex and Alex as the same name.
- Asking for more winners than names, or drawing from an empty list, shows a message instead of a result.
- The list stays in your browser. It is not uploaded or saved, so a refresh clears it.
- The tool cannot prove who entered a giveaway. Paste the final entry list, screen-record the draw, and follow the contest rules that apply to you.
If you would rather watch a spinner, try the spin the wheel. To split the same list into groups, use the random team generator, and for a simple either-or decision you can flip a coin online.
Frequently asked questions
Is the random name picker really random?
Yes. Winners come from crypto.getRandomValues with rejection sampling, so each name has an equal chance. The same name can still win twice in a row on separate picks. Tick Remove names after they win to let each name win at most once.
How do I pick several winners without repeats?
Set Number of winners to the amount you need and press Pick a name once. One draw never repeats a name. For separate rounds, tick Remove names after they win.
Can I use it to pick a giveaway or raffle winner?
Yes, for choosing from a list you paste in. The tool keeps no record of who entered, so screen-record the draw for proof, and check the contest rules where you live and on your platform.
How do I paste names from Excel or Google Sheets?
Copy one column of cells and paste it into the Names box, because each cell arrives on its own line. A copied row arrives on one line separated by tabs, so press Split commas and tabs into lines.