Random Name Picker and Team Generator
Draw random winners from a list or split names into balanced teams.
Use via API
Fairly pick random winners from a list of names (no repeats), or shuffle the names into balanced random teams. Uses a cryptographic random source. Send JSON, get JSON back.
POST https://pithlab.com/api/v1/tools/random-name-picker
curl https://pithlab.com/api/v1/tools/random-name-picker \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $PITHLAB_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"names":"Ada\nAlan\nGrace\nLinus\nMargaret\nTim","mode":"pick","n":2}'About the Random Name Picker
Pick random winners from a list of names without repeats, remove them as you go, or shuffle everyone into balanced teams. Fair, secure and in your browser.
How to use the Random Name Picker
- Paste or type the names, one per line. Tick Remove duplicates if the same person might appear twice.
- Choose how many winners to pick and press Pick. Tick Remove picked names to take winners out of the list for the next draw.
- To make teams, choose people per team or number of teams and press Make teams. Teams differ in size by at most one.
Examples
Input
Alice, Bob, Carol, Dan
Output
e.g. Carol
Input
Alice, Bob, Carol, Dan, Erin
Output
e.g. Erin, Alice
Input
Alice, Bob, Carol, Dan
Output
e.g. Team 1: Dan, Alice. Team 2: Bob, Carol
Frequently asked questions
Is the draw fair?
Yes. Winners are chosen with your browser's cryptographically secure random number generator and an unbiased shuffle, so every entry has exactly the same chance.
Can someone win twice?
Not in the same draw. If you tick Remove picked names, winners are also taken out of the list so they can't win later draws. Two separate lines with the same name count as two entries unless you remove duplicates.
How are teams balanced?
Everyone is shuffled and then dealt into teams in turn, like dealing cards, so team sizes never differ by more than one. With 7 people in teams of 3 you get 3, 2 and 2.
Are the names uploaded?
No. The list stays in your browser and is never sent anywhere. The pick history disappears when you reset or leave the page.