In raffle mode, each name is removed from the pool after it is picked. This ensures every participant can only win once. Re-enable names by resetting the pool.

Is the pick truly random?

Yes. Every pick uses crypto.getRandomValues, the Web Crypto API, which provides cryptographically secure randomness.

What is the difference between "unique" and "allow duplicates"?

In unique mode (without replacement), each name can appear at most once per draw. In allow-duplicates mode (with replacement), the same name can be picked multiple times in a single draw - like rolling a die multiple times.

Can I see the history of picks?

Yes. Every pick is added to the history list below the result so you can track who has been chosen.

Random Name Picker - Pick Winners & Raffle Names Online

What is a Random Name Picker?

A random name picker selects one or more names from a list using a fair, unbiased algorithm. Common uses include choosing a raffle winner, picking a student to answer a question, selecting a giveaway recipient, assigning random roles, or making any decision that requires a neutral party.

Raffle mode

Enable Raffle mode to have each picked name removed from the pool. This guarantees every participant can only be selected once, just like drawing names from a hat. When the pool is empty, click Reset pool to start over.

Unique picks vs. allow duplicates

In the default (unique) mode, picking multiple names in a single draw ensures no name appears twice. In Allow duplicates mode, each pick is independent; the same name can appear more than once in a single draw, like rolling a die multiple times.

How random is it?

Every pick uses crypto.getRandomValues(), the browser's cryptographically secure random number generator. No data leaves your device.

Use case examples

Use case	Recommended settings
Classroom cold-calls	Raffle mode: each student only called once per session
Prize raffle / giveaway	Raffle mode: one draw, removed from pool
Team assignment	Pick N at once (unique mode) to split a list into groups
Restaurant / activity decision	Unique mode, pick 1 from a list of options
Secret Santa / gift exchange	Raffle mode: assign each person a recipient

Weighted picking

Standard random picking treats every name equally (uniform probability). Some use cases benefit from weighted picking, where some names have higher probability of being selected. For example, in a raffle where tickets were sold, a person with 5 tickets should be 5× more likely to be selected than someone with 1 ticket.

To simulate weighted picking with this tool, add a name to the list multiple times - one entry per ticket. Entering "Alice" three times and "Bob" once gives Alice a 75% chance of being picked.