About Random Name Picker
This random name picker chooses winners from a list for giveaways, classroom turns and team decisions. Paste the names, say how many to pick, and press Pick. It is free, needs no sign-up and runs in your browser, so nothing you enter is uploaded.
Within one draw a name is never chosen twice, so picking three winners gives three different people. Every name has the same chance, however many times you press Pick.
If you need a record of the draw, copy the result at the time, because the page does not remember it after a new pick.
How to use Random Name Picker
- Choose what to generate: numbers, a coin flip, dice, a shuffled list, a name picker or lottery numbers.
- For numbers, enter the minimum and the maximum, then how many numbers you want. Both ends are included.
- Switch on No repeats if every number must be different, and Sort if you want them in order. Pick a number of decimal places for decimals.
- Press Generate (or Flip, Roll, Shuffle or Pick). Each press makes a new independent draw.
- Copy the result or download it as a text file. The coin keeps a running tally of heads and tails until you reset it.
Features
- Unbiased integers: crypto.getRandomValues with rejection sampling, so every value in the range is equally likely.
- Any range up to about 9 quadrillion, whole numbers or up to six decimal places, unique or with repeats, optionally sorted.
- Up to 10,000 numbers in one draw, copied or downloaded as plain text.
- Coin flip with a running tally and a short animation that is turned off when your device asks for reduced motion.
- Dice roller for 1 to 10 dice of 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 20 or 100 sides, with each die and the total.
- List randomizer and name picker that use a Fisher-Yates shuffle with unbiased index draws.
- Lottery numbers for common formats or your own: different main numbers, optional bonus numbers from a separate pool.
- Works on a phone, with large touch targets and no sign-up.
Worked examples
3 winners from 20 names gives 1,140 possible groups
C(20, 3) = 1,140 and each is equally likely.
Good to know
About the randomness
Draws come from crypto.getRandomValues in your browser with rejection sampling, so every outcome is equally likely. It is strong randomness for everyday use but not a certified lottery or gaming source.
Privacy: how it works
- Everything is generated by code running in your browser tab. Your ranges, lists and names are not sent to Ulkaa or to any other server.
Tips
- For a raffle, number the entries from 1 to the count and ask for one number with the range set to match.
- To pick several winners from a list, use the name picker. It never picks the same name twice in one draw.
- Decimals are generated as a whole number of the last decimal place and then scaled, so they are evenly spread too.
- For a simulation of many dice, ask for numbers from 1 to 6 with repeats allowed rather than rolling by hand.
Frequently asked questions
Is it really free?
Yes. There is no price, no trial and no credit card. Ulkaa Tool does the work with your own device, so there is no server bill to pass on to you.
Do I need an account?
No. There is no sign-up and no login. Open the page and use it. An Ulkaa account is not needed for anything on this tool.
Does it run in my browser?
Yes. Your ranges and lists are processed by code running in your browser tab, on your own device.
Is my data uploaded?
No. Your ranges and lists are never sent to Ulkaa or to anyone else. You can check this yourself by watching the Network tab in your browser developer tools while you use the tool.
Can I pick more than one name?
Yes. Set How many to pick. The names are all different.
Is it fair for a giveaway?
Every name has an equal chance. For a prize that needs an audit, save the result and the list at the time.
More Random Number Generator pages
- Random Number GeneratorSet a range, press Generate and get fair random numbers, or flip a coin, roll dice, shuffle a list or pick a name.
- Flip a CoinPress the button to flip a fair coin and keep a running count of heads and tails.
- Dice RollerChoose how many dice and which kind, then roll to see every die and the total.
- List RandomizerPaste your items, one per line or separated by commas, and shuffle them into a random order.
- Lottery Number GeneratorChoose a format such as 6 from 49 and get a quick pick, with different numbers in order.
- Random Number 1 to 10Press Generate for a random whole number from 1 to 10, both included.
- Random Number 1 to 100Press Generate for a random whole number from 1 to 100, both included.
- Random Decimal GeneratorGet random decimals between 0 and 1, or set your own range and number of decimal places.