Wheel of Names

About this generator

Unlike the site's other generators, which draw from a built-in dataset, the Wheel of Names spins on a list you type in yourself -- paste in any names, then spin to pick one at random with a turning wheel animation.

Every result here is drawn using crypto.getRandomValues() -- the Web Crypto API's cryptographically secure randomness -- instead of Math.random(), so it's genuinely unpredictable, not just statistically random. Learn more.

What people use it for

It's used for picking who goes first, assigning tasks or teams fairly, running a classroom or raffle drawing, or any decision among a specific group of people or options rather than a general random pick.

How it works

The wheel divides into one slice per name you've entered and spins to a stop using the site's cryptographically secure randomness. By default every slice is the same size, so each name is equally likely. Turn on Edit probabilities to give each name its own percentage: its slice grows or shrinks to match, and the odds of landing on it change to match its share. Elimination mode removes each winner from the wheel after it's picked, shrinking it spin by spin until one name is left -- otherwise every name stays in for repeat spins.

Common questions

How many names can I add?

Up to 50 at once, one per line -- the wheel shrinks its labels to fit as the list grows.

Is my list saved if I close the page?

Yes -- unlike the rest of the site, the names you enter here are remembered in your browser across visits.

Can I make some names more likely than others?

Yes -- turn on Edit probabilities and give each name a percentage. Its slice resizes to match its share and the spin lands on it that often. The numbers don't have to add up to exactly 100; they're treated as relative weights and normalized for you. Set a name to 0 to keep it on the list but never pick it.

What's elimination mode?

Turn it on and each winner is removed from the wheel after landing, so repeat spins draw from a shrinking pool -- useful for raffles or drawing everyone in a group exactly once. Use "Reset Wheel" to bring everyone back without retyping the list.

Can the same name be picked twice in a row?

In the default mode, yes -- every spin uses the full list. Turn on elimination mode to prevent repeats.

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