Random name picker

Paste a list of names, choose how many to draw and pick. This random name picker is free, runs in your browser and needs no sign-up.

Names (one per line)

Number of winners

Remove duplicate names Remove winner after each draw

Winner

Results use your browser's secure random generator. Nothing is sent to our servers.

How to use the name picker

1. Add your names

Type or paste them into the box, one name per line. The counter shows how many you've added.
2. Choose how many winners

Draw one name, or set a higher number to pick several at once.
3. Pick your options

Remove duplicate names is on by default, so a name entered twice counts once. Turn on Remove winner after each draw to keep picking without repeats.
4. Draw

Tap Draw a name. Tap it again for the next pick, or tap Copy results to paste the winners into a message or document.

What people use a random name picker for

Classroom turns: Pick who answers next or who presents first. With Remove winner after each draw on, everyone gets a turn before anyone goes twice.
Random groups and teams: Use it as a random group picker: tap Shuffle to mix the list, then count off groups from the top, for example every four names. Or draw names one at a time for each team.
Giveaways and raffles: Paste the names of everyone who entered, from a sign-up sheet, an email list or paper entries, and draw your winners.
Meetings and games: Decide who speaks first at stand-up, who picks the movie or who starts the game.
Work and events: Draw the winner of a team prize or an event raffle on a shared screen, so nobody thinks you played favorites.

Is the name picker really random?

Yes. Each pick uses your browser's cryptographic random generator (crypto.getRandomValues), the kind of randomness browsers provide for security features. Every line on your list has the same chance, and nothing you enter is sent to our servers.

One thing to watch: with Remove duplicate names turned off, a name that appears twice has two chances. Keep it on unless someone has earned extra entries. For a public draw, record your screen so people can see the full list and the result.

Random name picker FAQ

Is this random name picker free?

Yes. It's free, needs no account and runs in your browser.

Can I pick more than one name at once?

Yes. Set the number of winners before you tap Draw a name.

How do I stop the same name being picked twice?

Turn on Remove winner after each draw, so a name leaves the list once it's picked. Keep Remove duplicate names on (it is by default), so nobody is on the list twice.

Can I paste names from a spreadsheet?

Yes. Copy a column of names from Excel or Google Sheets and paste it into the box. Each cell lands on its own line.

How do I make random groups?

Paste the names, tap Shuffle, then split the shuffled list into groups of the size you need. For teams of five, take the first five names, then the next five, and so on.

Can I use it to pick an Instagram giveaway winner?

You can paste usernames in by hand. To draw straight from the comments of a post or reel, use the Gifty app for iPhone. It collects comments from up to 1,000 participants per draw and counts each account once.

Can you see the names I enter?

No. The picker runs in your browser, and nothing you enter is sent to our servers. Your list is saved only in this browser, so it's still there when you come back.

Does it work on my phone?

Yes. It works in the browser on phones, tablets and computers, with nothing to install.