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Random name picker

Paste your list, choose how many names to draw, and pick them right in your browser.

The draw runs in your browser.

Up to 1,000 names. Type one twice and it counts twice.

8 names on the list

The list stays saved in this browser.

From 1 to 8.

Results

The names you draw show up here, in the order they came out.

How to use it

  1. Type or paste the names, one per line.
  2. Choose how many winners to draw.
  3. Tap "Draw names": the names show in the order they came out.
  4. For another round without them, remove the winners from the list.

How it works

The draw runs in your browser with its cryptographic random number generator (crypto.getRandomValues). Every name on the list has the same chance of coming out.

To draw several, the tool shuffles the whole list and takes the first ones. Each line comes out once at most, and every order is equally likely. There's no modulo bias: values that would tilt the result are thrown out and drawn again.

Your list is saved in this browser's local storage, so it's there next time. It's never sent to a server, and the "Clear list" button deletes it.

Example

A teacher has 28 students and wants 3 of them to come up to the board. She pastes the list, types 3 and draws.

Three different names come out, in order. When she's done, she removes the winners, so the saved list no longer has them next class.

Frequently asked questions

How do I pick a random name from a list?

Paste the list here, one name per line, choose how many to draw and tap "Draw names". No account or download needed.

Is this name picker really random?

Yes. It uses your browser's cryptographic random number generator, and every name has the same chance of coming out.

Can the same name be picked twice?

Not if you typed it once: each line comes out once at most. If you type a name twice, it counts as two entries and gets twice the chance.

Does the name picker save my list?

Yes, in this browser only, so it's there next time. It's never sent to a server. To delete it, tap "Clear list".

How many names can I put in the name picker?

Up to 1,000, each up to 100 characters long. You can draw anywhere from 1 name to all of them.

Can I use it for a giveaway on social media?

Yes, if you copy the names into the list. The tool doesn't connect to any social network: it only draws from the list you type.

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