Random Name Picker Wheel
This name picker wheel chooses one name from your list at random, in front of whoever is watching. Add your class list, team sheet or list of entrants, spin, and the name under the pointer is the pick.
It is built for the case where the choice has to be seen to be believed: calling on a student, drawing a raffle winner, or picking who goes first. The pick is public, so nobody has to take your word for it.
How to use the name picker
- Add your names — one at a time, or open “Paste a list” and drop in a whole roster at once.
- Spin the wheel. It slows down and stops on one name.
- Read the name out, then remove it from the list if that person has had a turn — or turn on auto-remove and the wheel does it for you.
- Spin again for the next pick. Restore brings removed names back for a fresh round.
For teachers: calling on students fairly
The most common use is a classroom, and the reason is not speed — it is fairness. A name picker makes it obvious that the same three students are not being called on every time, which is exactly what a hand-raise does not do. Two patterns work well:
- Remove as you go. Turn on auto-remove so each name leaves the wheel after it comes up — every student is called once before anyone is called twice.
- Keep everyone in. Leave auto-remove off and accept repeats, which keeps the tension up and stops students from switching off once their turn is over.
For raffles and giveaways
When prizes are drawn live, the audience needs to see the draw. Spin the wheel with the entries on it and the winner appears on screen. Remove the winner and spin again for second prize.
With auto-remove on, nobody can take two prizes — each winner leaves the wheel as they are drawn, and the last name standing is the last winner.
Random name picker or wheel of names?
They share the same mechanic, and either will work for most lists. The difference is what you are optimising for:
- If the wheel is the show — you want per-segment colours and editable options on screen — the wheel of names is the one to use.
- If you want the pick fast and the wheel is just the fair way to get it, stay here — auto-remove and restore are built for drawing through a list, one name at a time.
For a two-option question rather than a list of names, use the yes or no wheel.
What people use it for
- Classroom cold calling — picking which student answers the next question.
- Group and team assignment — splitting a roster by drawing one name at a time.
- Raffles and prize draws — livestreamed or in person.
- Meeting facilitation — picking who presents, which topic comes next, or who takes notes.
- Chore and task rotation at home or in a shared rota.
- Trivia and games — picking the next player or the next question.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have another question? Let us know.
What is a random name picker wheel?
A spinner built from a list of names that picks one at random. You supply the names, spin, and the pointer decides which one wins.
Is it truly random?
Yes — each spin is independent and every name on the wheel has the same chance. No name is favoured by position or by the previous result.
Can I pick more than one name?
Turn on auto-remove: each winner leaves the wheel as it is picked, so you can keep spinning for a clean sequence with no repeats. Restore brings the full list back when you need it again.
Can I use it for a class list of thirty students?
Yes. Thirty names is a comfortable size for the wheel, and with auto-remove on, everyone gets called before anyone gets a second turn.
Is it free, and does it need an account?
It is free with no account and no download. Your list stays on this page — nothing is uploaded anywhere.
Does it work on a projector?
Yes — the wheel scales to the screen and has a fullscreen mode, which is why it works well for classrooms and live draws.
More free random tools
Every tool below runs in the browser, with no account and no download.
