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Use this random name picker to choose one person or a whole set of names. Paste a list, set your repeat rules, and get a clear text result immediately.
Local processing · Optional repeats · Copy and TXT export
Your random name picker is ready. Try the sample or paste a list of up to 5,000 entries.
Names stay in this tab. The tool does not upload or save your list.
Set the rules once, then give your attention to the people in the room.
Choose the next reader without scrolling through a roster. This random name picker can exclude earlier selections, giving each entry a turn before the pool resets. Explain the rules first, check who is present, and allow participants to pass if that suits your activity. Use initials or simple labels when projecting the screen.
Select several people together for a demonstration or discussion. The random name picker shows each selected entry and the remaining pool size. Copy the output into your session notes, then draw again when you need another set. Announce whether previous participants remain eligible before your first click, so everyone understands the process.
Follow these three steps for a draw you can explain to everyone involved.
Paste one name per line into the random name picker. Full names, hyphens, accents, and non-English characters are supported. You can import a UTF-8 TXT file instead, or select commas, semicolons, or tabs when that matches your source. The random name picker removes blank entries and outer spaces. It does not silently combine people with the same name.
Example input: Alex, Jordan, Sam, and Taylor, each on a separate line. For two people named Alex, use Alex R. and Alex M. so the result is easy to identify.
Enter how many names you need, then choose a draw mode. In the random name picker, without replacement means each entry appears at most once in that draw. With replacement allows repeat selections inside the same batch. The separate exclusion checkbox keeps selected entries out of future draws. Your random name picker applies exclusion after the current batch is complete.
For one turn per participant across several rounds, choose Without replacement and leave Exclude selected entries enabled. Set these rules before drawing.
Select Pick names to show your result. The random name picker provides Copy results and Download TXT, plus a recent draw history. Pick again uses the currently available pool. Reset pool restores all entries without changing your list. Changing names or repeat rules clears the session; changing only the pick count keeps exclusions but clears the current result.
Small differences in the rules can produce very different selections.
A random name picker without replacement treats each list entry like a separate card. After a card is chosen, it cannot appear again in that batch. A request for five picks from four available entries is rejected. Reduce the requested count or choose replacement; the tool never quietly changes your rules.
A random name picker with replacement returns each entry to the eligible pool after each selection within the batch. Alex could appear twice in three picks, even with many names available. That is expected behavior. Across later batches, the exclusion option still applies to every entry selected in the completed batch.
The random name picker preserves identical labels as separate entries. If Alex is entered twice and Jordan once, two of the three entries say Alex. Merge identical names only when those repetitions are accidental. Matching is case-sensitive after outer spaces are removed. The result shows entry numbers to distinguish identical labels.
These names illustrate the result structure. Your actual random selection will vary.
Add Alex, Jordan, Sam, and Taylor to the random name picker on separate lines. Set the count to two, choose Without replacement, and enable exclusion. One possible result is Jordan followed by Taylor. The random name picker then reports two entries still available: Alex and Sam. This example is illustrative, not a prediction.
A second draw of two must contain Alex and Sam, in either order. A third draw is blocked because the pool is empty. Reset pool makes all four entries eligible again.
Reset the random name picker and select With replacement. In a batch of two, Jordan could be selected twice. If exclusion is enabled, Jordan is excluded once after the batch and three entries remain. Turn exclusion off before starting if you want every entry to stay eligible across all rounds. Changing this rule resets the session.
Clear inputs and clear expectations matter as much as the selection itself.
This random name picker uses browser cryptographic randomness. Rejection sampling avoids biased integer selection, and draws without replacement use a partial Fisher–Yates shuffle. Each eligible entry has an equal chance at each selection step. The random name picker does not balance personalities, attendance, skill, or past participation outside the current session.
Repeated runs can still look surprising. Short streaks are possible with replacement. Do not rerun only because you dislike a result while describing the original process as impartial.
Your random name picker list is processed in this browser tab. Names, imported file contents, and results are not uploaded by the tool, included in analytics events, or saved to local storage. General page analytics are enabled separately. Refreshing starts a new session. Clear list removes the active names, results, and history.
Copied text and downloaded files remain wherever you place them. Avoid unnecessary personal details, and check the screen before sharing it. This random name picker does not create public result links or sync across devices.
The random name picker accepts up to 5,000 entries, 120 characters per entry, and 200,000 input characters. A draw can contain 1 to 500 selections. TXT imports are limited to 200 KB. If your random name picker rejects an input, correct the displayed issue instead of assuming part of the list was used.
When clipboard permission is blocked, download the results or select the text manually. An empty pool needs a reset. This tool does not offer certified drawings, identity verification, weighted odds, or independently verifiable audit records.
Answers to common questions about names, repeat rules, and your results.
Paste one entry per line, leave the count at one, and select Pick names. This random name picker immediately displays the selected label and its original entry number. Review the list first, especially after importing text.
Yes. Set a count from 1 to 500. Without replacement, that count cannot exceed the available entries. With replacement, the random name picker can select the same entry more than once in a batch.
Choose Without replacement and enable Exclude selected entries. This prevents repeated entries within and across draws until you reset. If two different entries have the same label, the random name picker may still display that label twice; use distinguishing initials.
No. Lists are held in the active page session. Copy your list before leaving if you want to reuse it later. The random name picker starts with sample names when you reload; it does not restore your previous names or history.
Editing the list, delimiter, duplicate setting, replacement mode, or exclusion rule clears old results and history. Adjusting only the count clears the result but keeps exclusions. This prevents the random name picker from presenting an old selection as if it came from new settings.
Yes. The tool is free to use without registration. A current browser with JavaScript and cryptographic randomness enabled is sufficient. The random name picker does not require a download, extension, or subscription.
Random Name Picker
Put your list into the random name picker and set your rules.
For a practical first session, read the Pick & Shuffle getting-started guide.
A simple path to your next activity
Paste a list or import a TXT file.
Choose how many names and whether to repeat.
Draw, then copy or download the result.
Your names stay in your browser. Your next decision is a click away.