Random Name Picker
A random name picker for any list: one name or several, with or without repeats, every name given exactly the same chance, and a wheel that spins to the winner.
Picked
- Chance for each name 12 entries, each exactly as likely as every other: 1/12.
- 1 in 12 (8.33%)
- Names left
- Ava, Ben, Chloe, Dev, Ella, Finn, Grace, Hugo, Isla, Jack, Leah
- Names read
- 12 names
| Wedge | Name | Picked |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ava | |
| 2 | Ben | |
| 3 | Chloe | |
| 4 | Dev | |
| 5 | Ella | |
| 6 | Finn | |
| 7 | Grace | |
| 8 | Hugo | |
| 9 | Isla | |
| 10 | Jack | |
| 11 | Kai | yes |
| 12 | Leah |
How the Random Name Picker works
A random name picker has one job: give every name on the list exactly the same chance, on every pick.
With the 12 names this random name picker opens with, each has a 1 in 12 chance, 8.33%. Picking several works like a hat. Without repeats, each pick comes from the names still in the hat, so 3 picks from 12 can come out 220 different sets, or 1,320 different orders if first place matters, and each name has a 25% chance of being among the 3. With repeats on, every pick is from the full list again. Three picks from 12 then repeat a name 23.6% of the time, which is the birthday problem and is more often than most people guess.
The random name picker wheel shows the draw rather than making it. Its wedges are numbered in list order and it stops with the first name picked under the pointer. On a system set to reduce motion it appears already stopped.
A random name generator from a list cannot be audited after the fact. There is no seed and no record of the draw, and every draw is fresh and independent of the last. If a result needs to stand, draw it where everyone can see, and screenshot it.
Random Name Picker FAQ
Is this random name picker fair?
Yes. Every name has exactly the same chance on every pick: the randomness is the browser's cryptographic generator, and rejection sampling removes the slight bias that taking a remainder would give the first few names on the list.
How do I remove a name after it is picked?
Draw without repeats. The names not yet picked are listed with the result, and drawing again from that list leaves the winners out.
Can I pick more than one name at once?
Yes. Without repeats, each name can come up once and the order they are drawn in is random too, so the first can take first prize. With repeats on, every pick is from the full list.
Can I give one name more chances?
Yes, by listing it more than once. Each copy is a separate entry, numbered so you can tell them apart, so a name entered three times is three times as likely to be picked.
Does the wheel decide the result?
No. The name is drawn first and the wheel is turned to show it, stopping on that name's wedge. The wheel is decoration; the text result is the draw.
Can I use it as a wheel spinner for things other than names?
Yes. Any list works: chores, restaurants, prizes, questions for a quiz. Each item separated by a comma is one entry and one wedge on the wheel, up to 100 wedges, and up to 500 entries in the draw.
Are the names sent anywhere?
No. The draw runs in your browser and the list stays on your device. The only names in the HTML are the example list the picker opens with.