Random name picker (wheel)
Type one name per line, then spin the wheel: everyone has the same chance. With 5 names, each has a 20% chance of being picked.
- Checked on thousands of cases
- Sources: W3C
- Updated November 6, 2026
You can also separate them with commas. The list stays on your device.
5 names on the wheel
Name picked
Spin the wheel to pick a name.
Drawn at random on your device; nothing is saved.
How it works
Formula: Chance of each name = 1 ÷ number of names
The winner is drawn with the browser's secure random generator, discarding values that would tip the balance; the wheel then spins to land on them. Each line counts as one chance: a name written twice has twice the chance. Tick “Remove the winner” to draw a full running order. The list stays on your device.
Worked examples
5 names
Each has a 20% chance.
4 names, removing the winner each time
You get a running order: 24 possible orders, all equally likely.
One name written twice among 10 lines
It has a 20% chance instead of 10%.
Common mistakes
Leaving a duplicate in the list.
Every line counts: a duplicated name has twice the chance.
Spinning again until the name you wanted comes up.
Only the first spin is fair: agree on the rule before spinning.
Thinking the last name on the list has less chance.
Position makes no difference: 20% each with 5 names.
What the calculation leaves out
- The draw happens on your device and is not recorded: it does not replace an official draw in front of witnesses.
Chance of each name by list size
| Names | Chance of each |
|---|---|
| 2 | 50 % |
| 3 | 33.3 % |
| 4 | 25 % |
| 5 | 20 % |
| 6 | 16.7 % |
| 8 | 12.5 % |
| 10 | 10 % |
| 20 | 5 % |
| 50 | 2 % |
Frequently asked questions
Is the draw fair?
Yes: every name has the same chance, wherever it is in the list.
Can I pick several winners?
Yes: tick “Remove the winner from the list” and spin again. The same name cannot come up twice.
How many names can I add?
Up to 200. Beyond 16 names the wheel no longer shows them, but the draw works the same way.