Random Name Picker
Fair random picks from any list — single winners, no-repeat draws, or the whole class split into random groups. Crypto-grade randomness, nothing uploaded.
How to use this tool
- Paste names, one per line (blank lines are ignored).
- Pick a random name — turn on remove-after-pick for raffle-style draws without repeats.
- Or split the whole list into N random groups for projects and teams.
How it works
Fairness here is mathematical, not decorative: picks use the browser's cryptographic random source (crypto.getRandomValues) with rejection sampling, so every name has an exactly equal chance and there is no seeding or pattern to exploit. Team splitting uses the Fisher-Yates shuffle, the standard algorithm that makes every possible arrangement equally likely.
Picks use the browser's cryptographically secure random source (the same one our password generator uses), not the weaker Math.random — every entry has an exactly equal chance, and group splitting uses an unbiased Fisher-Yates shuffle before dealing names round-robin.
Frequently asked questions
Can the picker be rigged or predicted?
No — it draws from the operating system's cryptographic random source, the same generator used for encryption keys. There is no seed to learn and no pattern to predict, unlike simple 'random' functions based on the clock.
Is the pick really fair?
Yes — selection uses crypto.getRandomValues with rejection sampling, giving each entry an exactly equal probability. No entry is favored by position or length.
How do I run a raffle with multiple winners?
Turn on 'Remove picked names' and click Pick once per prize — each winner leaves the pool, so nobody wins twice.
Can I split a class into equal groups?
Yes — enter the number of groups; the list is shuffled and dealt evenly. With a remainder, the first groups get one extra member.