Wheel of Names

What Is the Wheel of Names?

The Wheel of Names is a free online random name picker that chooses one name at random by spinning an animated wheel. Every name occupies an equal segment, so each person has exactly the same chance of being picked on every spin — no weighting, no bias, no hidden odds. Add a class roster, a team, a list of contest entrants, or any group of names and let the wheel decide fairly.

This wheel is a full animated SVG wheel: your names appear as labeled colored segments, a pointer sits at the top, and the wheel decelerates with a smooth ease-out spin before landing on a winner. Start with 16 sample names, add up to 100, paste an entire list at once, and turn on no-repeat mode to draw everyone exactly once. Free, no signup, and it runs entirely in your browser — nothing is stored or sent anywhere.

How to Use the Wheel of Names

1. Add your names: The wheel starts with 16 sample names. Type a name in the input field and press Enter or click Add, or paste a comma-separated or newline-separated list to load a whole class or team at once. You can add up to 100 names total.
2. Turn on no-repeat mode (optional):Check "Remove each winner after it's picked" to draw everyone once without duplicates — ideal for raffles, secret santa, and turn order.
3. Spin: Click the Spin the Wheel button or the center hub. The wheel spins with an ease-out deceleration and stops with the winning name under the pointer.
4. See the winner: The winning name appears in the result card below. Click Copy to copy it to your clipboard.
5. Spin again or reset:Click Spin Again for another pick. Expand the names list and click "Reset to defaults" to restore the original 16 sample names.

How the Random Name Pick Works

• Pre-selected winner: The winning name is chosen using Math.random() the moment you click Spin. The wheel then animates and decelerates to land precisely on that segment — the spin is visual, the outcome is already fair.
• Equal probability: Every name has exactly the same chance of winning regardless of how long the name is or where it sits on the wheel.
• No-repeat draws:With remove-winner mode on, each picked name leaves the wheel and joins your winners list, so you can spin through an entire roster without ever repeating a name. Restore all names with one click when you're done.
• Client-side only: All randomization and rendering happens in your browser. No names or results are sent to a server or stored anywhere.

Common Use Cases for a Name Picker Wheel

• Classrooms: Teachers add student names and spin to call on someone at random, pick presentation order, or choose a helper — fair and visible to the whole class.
• Raffles & giveaways: Paste your entrant list, turn on no-repeat mode, and spin to draw winners one by one with a satisfying animated reveal.
• Team standups & meetings: Add team members and spin to pick who speaks first, who runs the retro, or who takes the next ticket.
• Secret santa & gift exchanges: Use no-repeat mode to assign each person without drawing the same name twice.
• Turn order & chores: Decide who goes first in a game or who does the dishes without any arguments about fairness.
• Contest & livestream winners: Streamers add follower names and spin on-screen to pick a random winner live.
• Group assignments: Spin repeatedly with no-repeat mode to distribute roles, topics, or tasks evenly across a group.

Features

• Animated SVG wheel: Full visual wheel with labeled name segments, a pointer, and a smooth ease-out spin — it looks and feels like a real prize wheel.
• Up to 100 names: Add names one at a time or paste an entire comma/newline list at once; remove any name with a single click.
• No-repeat mode: Remove each winner automatically to draw a whole list without duplicates, then restore all names when finished.
• Recent winners: Your last several picks are shown below the result card.
• One-click copy: Copy the winning name to your clipboard instantly.
• Equal odds: Every name has an identical chance on every spin — provably fair.
• Private & free: Runs entirely in your browser with no signup and no limits; your names are never stored or sent anywhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Wheel of Names?

It is a free online random name picker. You add a list of names to a spinning wheel, click Spin, and the wheel lands on one random name — used for classrooms, raffles, giveaways, team selection, and deciding turn order.

How many names can I add?

Up to 100 names. The wheel starts with 16 sample names. Labels are most readable with 20 or fewer — with more names the segments become narrower, but every name still has equal odds.

Can I stop the same name from being picked twice?

Yes. Turn on "Remove each winner after it's picked" and each winning name leaves the wheel, so you can spin through an entire list without repeats. Click "Restore all names" to bring them back.

How do I add my own class roster or team list?

Type a name and press Enter, or paste a comma-separated or newline-separated list into the input to add every name at once, up to the 100-name limit. Remove any name by clicking × next to it.

Is the name pick truly random?

Yes. The winner is chosen with Math.random() before the animation starts, so every name has an equal probability on every spin. The spin is visual only — the outcome is already decided when you click Spin.

Does the Wheel of Names store my names?

No. Everything runs in your browser. Your names and results are never sent to any server and are not stored anywhere, not even between sessions.

Is it free?

Yes — completely free with no account, no signup, and no limit on how many times you spin.