Random Name Picker

Pick a random name to answer the next question in class, take the next turn in a game or lead today's meeting. Paste the names, pick one or several, and the page keeps a running list of who has been picked, so you can go round the whole group without picking anyone twice. It can also make a turn order or a snake draft order for fantasy leagues and team picks.

How to use this tool

1. Paste or type the names, one per line.
2. Choose “Pick names” and how many to pick, or “Turn or draft order” and the number of rounds.
3. To go round the group without repeats, copy “Names picked so far” into “Already picked” before the next pick.
4. Press the button and copy the result.

Formula

P(a name is picked next) = 1 ÷ (number of names still in the draw)

Names are picked without replacement with a partial Fisher–Yates shuffle that uses unbiased secure random integers, so every name still in the draw — and every possible order — is equally likely. A seed switches to the repeatable sfc32 generator.

Example

Picking 2 names from 8 gives each name a 2 ÷ 8 = 25% chance. With “Already picked” filled in after each round, a class of 8 gets through everyone in four rounds of two. In draft mode with 4 names and 3 rounds, an order of B, D, A, C becomes 12 picks: B D A C, then C A D B, then B D A C.