Random Name Picker
Replace the sample list with your names and draw one person for a meeting, a quick raffle or the first presentation.
Make one name draw
- Replace the examples
Enter a name on each line. A copied column works well; remove any header, email address or extra field you did not intend to show on screen.
- Check who can be picked
Review the names, repeated lines, the visible limit and any weights. For a raffle, decide which entries qualify before the first spin, not after.
- Spin and read the result
Click or tap the wheel. Read the selected name from the winner box, and open Rounds first if you need several different people.
With one wheel, Auto remove winner edits the list and keeps at least two non-empty lines. Use Rounds to finish a sequence of distinct rows without deleting names.
Pick someone for the job in front of you
Use this random name picker when you already have a list and need one answer now. Paste a column from a spreadsheet or type up to 2,000 names, one per line; the first 1,000 are active by default and each active name becomes a slice. Replace the eight sample names first, delete any heading or email address that came along with the paste, and check that everyone who should take part is on the list. Then spin. The pointer stops on one name, and the winner box identifies the selected entry. Long names may be shortened on screen; the draw still uses the complete entry.
Enabled names have the same chance on every spin unless you add weights or repeat a name. The wheel does not remember who won last time, so a spin can land on the same person twice in a row, which is what a fair draw sometimes does. If you want one person to have a bigger share, open Advanced and give that name more weight, or simply type the name twice; with Show Duplicates on, each copy is its own slice.
Before spinning, give people with the same name different labels, such as Sam R. and Sam T. The winner box shows the label you entered. Remove accidental copies when each person should have one chance. Show Duplicates off collapses identical lines, so it can also hide a second person if both were entered with exactly the same name.
Need several different people, for example three volunteers or a full speaking order? Open Rounds, tick anyone who is absent, and start it. The wheel then skips absent rows and any row already called, and it keeps going until none are left, so three distinct names give exactly three picks. A name entered twice holds two rows and can be called twice. End round brings the original list back untouched. With one wheel, Auto remove winner edits the list itself but skips a removal that would leave fewer than two non-empty lines.
To keep a round for later, opt into Remember this round in this browser. After a reload on the same page, load the roster from My Wheels and restore the same settings, then choose Resume saved round. The list must match exactly. Saving needs browser storage; names, absences and call history remain readable to anyone using that browser. End or discard unneeded rounds on shared computers. If a save warning appears, keep the tab open because progress may not have been kept.
This page is built for one-off draws, so nothing needs to be saved. When the same list comes back every week, save it in My Wheels, which holds it in this browser while storage lasts, or download a .wheel file where your device policy allows and open it on another computer. There is no account. Share, live rooms and public Gallery publishing upload wheel data to ChoiceSpin. Results keeps recent picks in this browser as a convenience, not a certified record of a draw.
Quick ways to use the picker
- Meetings Choose the first presenter: Enter the people presenting today. Draw once to choose the opening speaker, or start Rounds before the first spin to give each presenter one turn.
- Informal draws Pick from a checked entrant list: Resolve eligibility and accidental repeat entries before spinning. Results shows recent picks for reference; it does not verify the entrant list or certify a draw.
- Classrooms Choose a willing reader: Enter the students who want to read, remove anyone absent, and spin to choose who reads first. Use distinct labels for students who share a name so everyone can recognize the result.
- Home and teams Who does the unpopular job: Put the household or the team on the wheel and spin for the person who books the restaurant, writes the minutes or takes the bins out. Use Rounds so the job moves through the list before it comes back.
For a classroom draw, see ways to use a class list, including choosing a willing reader.
Starting entries
- James
- Maria
- David
- Sarah
- Michael
- Anna
- Chris
- Nina
Common questions
Is the random name picker really random?
Yes. Where the wheel stops is decided by a random draw made on your own device, and every enabled name holds the same share of the wheel unless you add weights or repeat a name.
How do I pick more than one name without repeats?
Open Rounds and start a round. Each included row is picked once until the list is used up, and End round restores the full list. With one wheel, Auto remove winner edits the list while keeping at least two non-empty lines.
Can I paste names from Excel or Google Sheets?
Yes. Copy the column and paste it into the entries box; each line becomes one name. Delete the header row and any extra columns that came with it before you spin.
Does the picker save my list?
Only a working copy, unless you save it yourself. As you type, the page automatically writes your entries to this browser's storage, where storage is allowed. It still reopens with its sample names, so do not count on that copy. Save the wheel in My Wheels to keep it in this browser, or download a .wheel file to open it elsewhere. Local use does not upload the list, and there is no sign-up.
What happens with a very long list?
The wheel holds up to 2,000 names. The starting limit is 1,000 names; adjust Entries Visible in Customize when your list is longer. Very narrow slices may show no name, but this does not remove an active name from the draw or change its odds. The winner box identifies the selected entry, though a long name may be shortened on screen. This affects only the display; the draw still uses the complete entry.