1. What is the Name Picker?

The Name Picker is a free online spinning wheel that randomly selects one name from any list you provide. You enter your names, click Spin, and the wheel animates before landing on a randomly chosen winner. The entire process is visual, transparent, and fair — everyone watching can see exactly how the selection happens.

Under the hood, the Name Picker uses cryptographically secure randomness (the Web Crypto API) to ensure every name on the wheel has an exactly equal chance of being selected. There are no patterns, no bias, and no way to predict or manipulate the outcome. This makes it ideal for situations where fairness matters: classroom activities, contest giveaways, team assignments, raffle drawings, and any scenario where you need an impartial random selection.

2. How to Use the Name Picker

The Name Picker is designed to be intuitive. Most users can start spinning within seconds, but here is a detailed walkthrough of every step:

1. Open the Name Picker. Navigate to this page. The wheel and input panel load automatically — no sign-up, no downloads, no installation required.
2. Add your names. Use the input panel on the side of the wheel. You can type names one at a time, paste a list from a spreadsheet, or use quick-add presets. Each name appears as a segment on the wheel in real time. Use Quick Presets to quickly add common names, family members, or friends.
3. Edit your list (optional). Add or remove names, or duplicate entries if someone should have multiple chances. Changes reflect instantly on the wheel.
4. Adjust settings (optional). Open the settings panel to change spin speed or duration, or switch color themes. (Although defaults work fine for most uses.)
5. Spin the wheel. Click the Spin button in the center of the wheel (or press the Space or Enter/Return keys on your keyboard). The wheel spins with realistic physics and slows to a stop. The pointer indicates the winning name.
6. View and act on the result. A result popup announces the winner. From here you can copy the name to clipboard, remove it from the wheel for the next spin, or dismiss and spin again.

That is all it takes. For recurring use, you can bookmark your configured wheel or share the link with others.

3. Adding Names: All the Ways

The Name Picker supports multiple ways to populate your wheel, so you can use whichever method fits your workflow:

Type names one by one

Click the input field in the inputs panel, type a name, and press Enter or click the "+" button. Repeat for each name. This method works well for short lists or when you are building a wheel on the fly.

Paste a List of Names

Copy a list of names from a text file, a column of names from Excel, Google Sheets, or any other spreadsheet application. Click the Expand to multi-line button and paste names. Then click the "+" button. The tool automatically splits each line into a separate entry and adds them to the wheel. This is the fastest way to import long lists like class rosters, attendee lists, or contestant databases.

Edit after adding

Once names are on the wheel, you can still modify them. Drag entries to reorder them using the drag handles (⋮⋮ pattern) on their left. Use the "X" (delete) buttons to remove entries. All changes appear on the wheel immediately.

You can clear all entries by clicking the Clear entries button.

4. Wheel Settings

The Name Picker works out of the box with sensible defaults, but the settings panel lets you tailor the experience for different contexts — from quick classroom picks to dramatic live-streamed giveaways.

Spin behavior

• Spin duration: Choose how long the wheel spins before stopping. Shorter durations (2-3 seconds) keep things brisk for classroom use. Longer durations (8-10 seconds) build suspense for giveaways.
• Spin speed: Adjust the initial velocity. Higher speeds create a more dramatic spin; lower speeds feel calmer.

Colors and themes

Switch between color palettes to match your brand, classroom theme, or stream overlay. Each theme changes the segment colors on the wheel while keeping text legible.

5. Action Modes: Normal vs. Elimination

The Name Picker supports two primary modes of action. Understanding these modes helps you use this tool to its fullest.

Normal Mode

The wheel picks a name and that name stays on the wheel for subsequent spins. This is useful when:

• The same person can be selected multiple times (for example, picking who answers the next question in class — repeats are okay).
• You want to spin multiple times and compare results without modifying the list.
• You are running an informal decision-maker where persistence does not matter.

Elimination Mode

In Elimination Mode, you'd like to eliminate some or all of the selected names. This is possible by clicking the Remove button in the result popup. The name is then automatically removed from the wheel after the spin. This is essential when:

• Running a raffle or giveaway where each person can only win once.
• Assigning tasks to team members without repeating anyone until the list is exhausted.
• Calling on students one by one without repeating names during a class session.
• Forming groups by removing each person as they are assigned.

6. Saving and Sharing Your Wheel

You do not need an account to save and share your Name Picker configuration. Saving is free and available to every user.

How saving works

You work with the wheel, add/remove names, change cofiguration, etc. You can then click Share button in the top menu to get a shareable link. A small box with the link will pop up. You can now click the copy button to copy the link to your clipboard.

Sharing with others

Copy the URL and send it to colleagues, students, or your audience. When they open the link, they see the same wheel with the same names — ready to spin. (Note: their operations will not change your wheel configuration. It will remain constant and you can always refer to it.) This is perfect for:

• Teachers sharing a class roster wheel with substitute teachers.
• Event organizers distributing a giveaway wheel to co-hosts.
• Team leads sharing a task-assignment wheel with remote team members.

Organizing multiple wheels

Create separate configurations for different purposes (one wheel per class, one per campaign, one per team). Save each URL as a bookmark. Organize them in browser folders for quick access — for example, a "Class Rosters" folder or a "Giveaway Wheels" folder.

7. Use Case: Classroom and Teaching

Teachers are among the most frequent users of name picker wheels. The tool solves a common problem: how to call on students fairly without unconscious bias or predictable patterns.

Random student selection

Instead of picking volunteers (which favors outgoing students) or going down the roster (which is predictable), spin the wheel. Every student has an equal chance of being called. This keeps everyone engaged because they never know when their name will come up.

Assigning roles and tasks

Decide who presents first, who leads the discussion, or who takes notes. The wheel removes the decision from the teacher's hands, which students perceive as fairer.

Icebreakers and games

Use the wheel for classroom games: who answers the trivia question, who picks the next activity, or who shares their weekend story. The randomness adds an element of fun and anticipation.

Substitute teacher handoff

Save your class roster as a bookmarked wheel and share the link with substitute teachers. They can use the same fair selection method without needing to learn a new system.

8. Use Case: Giveaways and Raffles

Running a transparent giveaway builds trust with your audience. The Name Picker's visual spinning wheel shows everyone exactly how winners are chosen — no hidden algorithms, no behind-the-scenes manipulation.

Setting up a giveaway wheel

1. Collect participant names (from comments, sign-ups, or ticket sales).
2. Paste the names into the Name Picker.
3. Enable "remove after pick" if each person can only win once.
4. Optionally enable sounds and confetti for extra excitement.

Running the drawing live

Screen-share the wheel during a live stream, webinar, or in-person event. Click Spin and let your audience watch the wheel slow down and land on a winner. The visual drama creates engagement and proves the selection was random.

Multiple prizes

For giveaways with multiple prizes, use Elimination Mode. Spin once for the grand prize winner (they are removed), spin again for second place, and so on. This ensures each person wins at most one prize.

9. Use Case: Team and Workplace

Workplaces use the Name Picker to make fair, unbiased decisions that remove politics from everyday choices.

Task assignment

When no one volunteers for an unpleasant task, let the wheel decide. Spin to assign who handles the on-call shift, who writes the meeting notes, or who reviews the pull request. Random assignment feels fairer than a manager picking someone.

Meeting roles

Rotate meeting facilitator, timekeeper, or note-taker roles by spinning the wheel at the start of each meeting. This distributes responsibility evenly and gives everyone practice in different roles.

Icebreakers for remote teams

During virtual team meetings, use the wheel to pick who shares a fun fact, who answers the icebreaker question, or who goes first in a round-robin update. It adds a light moment to otherwise routine meetings.

Secret Santa and gift exchanges

Enter team member names and spin to assign Secret Santa pairs. Use Elimination Mode to ensure everyone is assigned exactly once.

Decision-making tiebreakers

When the team is split between two options, put both on the wheel and spin. Sometimes leaving a minor decision to chance is faster than debating further.

10. Tips and Best Practices

Get the most out of the Name Picker with these practical tips:

• Keep lists under 50 names for readability. The wheel can handle hundreds of names, but segments become hard to read. For large lists, the wheel still works correctly — you just won't be able to see every name on the visual.
• Use Elimination Mode for no-repeat scenarios. Anytime you need to ensure each name is picked only once (raffles, task assignment, group formation), enable "remove after pick."
• Test your settings before going live. If you are running a public giveaway, do a practice spin beforehand to confirm sounds, confetti, and timing are set the way you want.
• Bookmark frequently used wheels. If you use the same class roster or team list repeatedly, save the URL as a bookmark for instant access.
• Share the link, not a screenshot. If you want others to use your wheel, send them the URL so they get an interactive, spinnable version.

11. Related Tools

PickerKit offers other randomization tools for different use cases:

• Number Picker — Spin a wheel to select a random number from a range. Useful for games, lotteries, or assigning numbered items.
• Team Picker — Automatically divide a list of names into balanced teams or groups. Great for classroom group projects or sports team formation.
• Yes/No Picker — A simple decision wheel for binary choices. Quick way to settle yes-or-no questions.

All tools share the same principles: instant access, no sign-up, cryptographically secure randomness, and shareable URLs.