Random Name Picker

How the Random Name Picker Works

Every name you enter becomes a colored slice on the wheel, sized equally unless you repeat a name. Repeating an entry adds another slice for it, giving it more room on the wheel and a higher chance of landing under the pointer. When you click Spin, the tool picks a random angle using the browser's crypto.getRandomValues() method, part of the Web Crypto API , instead of a simple counter or pattern. The wheel spins to that angle and slows down, and whichever slice lands under the red pointer at the top is the winner.

How to Use the Random Name Picker

Type or paste one name, option, or task per line into the box, then click "Update wheel with this list" to redraw the slices. Click "Spin the Wheel" and it will spin and slow to a stop on one entry. The result is shown below the wheel and announced for screen reader users. Leave everyone on the wheel for repeat draws, or turn on "Remove the winner after each spin" to pick several different winners from one list without repeats.

Common Uses for a Spinning Name Wheel

Giveaways and raffles. Load your entrants and spin live during a stream, event, or social media post. Because the pick happens visibly on screen, it's easy for an audience to see the process rather than trust a printed result.

Classrooms and group activities. Teachers use it to call on students fairly, assign presentation order, or form random groups. Team leads use the same tool to decide who runs standup or presents first in a meeting.

Chores, tasks, and decisions. Splitting up chores, deciding who picks the restaurant, or choosing between a short list of options works the same way — type in the choices instead of names.

Contests and social media engagement. Paste a list of commenters or usernames to pick a winner for a comment giveaway. The tool doesn't pull entries from any platform automatically — you provide the list — which keeps the process transparent.

Customizing Your Wheel

Repeat a name on separate lines to give it more slices and a higher chance of being picked, which is useful for giving extra entries to specific participants. "Remove the winner after each spin" turns the wheel into a draw-without-replacement tool. "Remember this list" saves your current list in this browser's local storage so it's still there next time you open the page on this device — it is not uploaded anywhere and isn't visible on a different browser or device.

Privacy

The wheel, the randomness, and the spin animation all run in your browser. Your list of names is never sent to NovaBuildr's servers. If you enable "Remember this list," it is saved only in your browser's local storage on your own device, and you can clear it at any time with the Reset button or by clearing your browser data.

Limitations

Very long lists (roughly 60 or more entries) make individual slices thin and harder to read on smaller screens, though the random selection itself still works correctly. There's no account or cloud sync, since there's no sign-up or server-side storage — "Remember this list" only works on the browser and device where you set it. Names also need to be typed or pasted in; there's no automatic import from a spreadsheet or social media post.

Works on Mobile

The wheel and input box resize for phones and tablets, and the Spin button is large enough to tap comfortably. On small screens, the name list sits below the wheel instead of beside it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the result actually random?
Yes. The winning angle is generated using the Web Crypto API, which is designed to be unpredictable, rather than a simple timestamp- or counter-based method.

Can two people have different odds of winning?
Yes — repeat a name on multiple lines and it gets multiple slices, increasing its share of the wheel.

Does this tool store or see my list of names?
No. The list stays in your browser and is only saved to local storage if you turn on "Remember this list."

Can I use this for a real prize giveaway?
The tool is suitable for casual and small giveaways. For giveaways with legal requirements, such as sweepstakes rules in your country or platform, check those requirements separately — this tool only handles the random selection.

What happens if I spin with an empty or one-name list?
The Spin button won't run, and you'll see a message asking you to add at least two names first.

Useful References

For details on how browser-based randomness works, see the MDN Web Crypto API reference . For guidance on making live-updating content accessible, see the MDN ARIA live regions guide .