Drawing names from a hat is fair, but it is slow and hard to show to people watching online. Paste your list here instead and draw winners, a random order or balanced teams in one click — with every outcome equally likely and nothing uploaded anywhere.
How to use the random name picker
- Paste or type the names or items, one per line or separated by commas.
- Choose what to do: pick winners, shuffle the whole list, or split into teams.
- Enter how many winners or how many teams.
- Leave Remove duplicate entries ticked unless people have multiple entries on purpose.
- Press Pick. Press it again for a new draw.
Duplicate detection ignores capital letters and extra spaces, so “Sam Lee” and “sam lee” count as one entry.
How the draw works
The picker shuffles a copy of your list with the Fisher–Yates algorithm: starting from the last position, it swaps each entry with a randomly chosen entry at or before it. With a fair random source this produces each of the n! possible orders with equal probability. Winners are the first entries of the shuffled list; teams are dealt from it in turn.
For k winners drawn from n entries:
| Entries | Winners | Each entry’s chance | Possible winner groups |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 1 | 10% | 10 |
| 30 | 3 | 10% | 4,060 |
| 50 | 5 | 10% | 2,118,760 |
| 200 | 2 | 1% | 19,900 |
Worked example: classroom teams
A class of 26 students needs four teams.
- 26 ÷ 4 = 6 remainder 2, so two teams get 7 students and two get 6.
- The list is shuffled, then students are dealt to Team 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, … until everyone is placed.
- Any student is equally likely to land on any team, and any two students have the same chance of being teammates.
If you need to keep certain people apart, run the draw, then swap them by hand — or draw again until the teams work.
Running a fair giveaway
- Collect entries first, then draw. Close entries before you paste the list.
- Decide the rules in advance: number of winners, alternates, and whether repeat entries count.
- Show the draw. Share your screen or record it so entrants can see the result happen.
- Draw alternates at the same time. Picking five names when you need three gives you two backups in a documented order.
- Check local rules for prize drawings; some contests need official rules or no-purchase entry options.
Other ways to use it
- Turn order for board games: shuffle the player list.
- Presentation or reading order for a class or meeting.
- Chores and duties: shuffle the tasks, then read them against a fixed list of names.
- Decision making: list restaurant or movie options and pick one.
For numbered tickets, the random number generator is faster; for yes-or-no choices use the coin flipper. To count how many groups are possible, try the combinations calculator.
Every draw is independent and unpredictable. Save or screenshot your results before drawing again; the page does not keep a history.
Frequently asked questions
Is the name picker fair?
Yes. The list is shuffled with the Fisher–Yates method using your browser's cryptographic random generator, so every order — and therefore every possible winner — is equally likely.
How do I pick several winners with no repeats?
Choose Pick winners and enter how many. Winners are drawn without replacement, so the same entry can never win twice in one draw. They are listed in draw order for first, second and third prizes.
How are random teams made?
The list is shuffled and then dealt to the teams in turn, like dealing cards. Team sizes never differ by more than one, and who ends up together is completely random.
What if someone has more than one entry?
Untick Remove duplicate entries and list the person once per entry. Someone listed three times then has three times the chance of winning.
Are the names I paste stored?
No. The draw runs entirely in your browser and the list is never uploaded. Names are displayed safely as plain text.