Classroom Name Picker
Teachers can enter student names and randomly choose someone for a question, presentation, classroom activity, or turn. Random selection can also make repetitive classroom activities more interactive.
Wheel of Names – Free Random Wheel Spinner & Name Picker
Wheel of Names is a free random name picker. Add names to the wheel, press Spin, and randomly select one name from your list.
Quick answer: Wheel of Names is a free random wheel spinner and name picker. Type names or any choices, spin the wheel, and one entry is chosen at random with equal odds. Your list stays in your browser.
Wheel of Names
Your entries and history stay in this browser. No participant data is sent to a server.
Winner
The wheel could not load. Try a current browser or reload this page.
Wheel settings
Winner history
The last 100 winners are saved in this browser.
Watch: Every Wheel of Names Feature Explained in 5 Minutes
Our official video from the Wheel of Names YouTube channel walks through every feature on this page.
Video: Wheel of Names: EVERY Feature Explained in 5 Minutes (Complete Guide) by Wheel of Names on YouTube.
Powerful features
Key Features of the Wheel Spinner
Our wheel spinner comes with powerful and easy-to-use features to make random selection more fun, flexible, and exciting. Explore what you can do with it below.
Easy Entry Management
Add, edit, or remove names and options. Paste a list, shuffle, sort alphabetically, or manage entries with bulk tools.
- Add entries one by one, edit or delete any row, and drag the handle (or use the arrow keys) to reorder.
- Use Bulk edit to paste a whole list, Sort A–Z or Z–A, Remove duplicates, or search the list.
- Undo and Redo cover list changes.
Beautiful Themes & Colors
Choose different wheel themes and color palettes. Customize entry colors and create a wheel that matches your style.
- Pick a palette in the Appearance tab; the wheel updates as you choose.
- Give any entry its own colour, and reset custom colours in one click.
- Light and dark appearance is remembered in your browser.
Random & Weighted Selection
Use equal-chance mode or enable weighted selection to give different probabilities to each entry.
- Equal chances is the default: every enabled entry has the same chance.
- Switch to weighted chances to give each entry a positive weight; the chance shown beside each entry is its share of the total.
- Slice sizes follow the weights, and the wheel always lands on the entry that was selected.
Custom Spin Settings
Adjust spin duration, animation style, and other settings to create a quick decision or an exciting winner reveal.
- Set how long the spin lasts and choose a smooth or quick-stop animation style.
- Settings are remembered in your browser.
- If your device asks for reduced motion, the spin is shortened automatically.
Sound Effects & Celebrations
Make each spin more fun with optional sounds, tick effects, winner announcements, and confetti celebrations.
- Turn sound on or off, set the volume and test it before you spin.
- Choose tick sounds, a winner chime and confetti separately.
- Sound only starts after you press Spin, and moving effects are skipped when reduced motion is preferred.
Winner History
Keep track of previous results. View earlier winners, manage the history, and export results when needed.
- Every winner is added to a history you can open from the side rail.
- Copy the latest winner, export the results as CSV or text, or print them.
- History stays in your browser.
Remove Winners
Automatically or manually remove selected winners to avoid repeated selections, or keep all entries active for multiple spins.
- Turn on auto-remove and each winner leaves the wheel after the spin, so it cannot be drawn again.
- Restore a removed winner at any time.
- Leave it off to keep every entry active for repeated spins.
Save & Reuse Wheels
Save your customized wheels in your browser. Create multiple wheels and reopen them anytime without starting from scratch.
- Save a wheel, then load, rename, duplicate or delete it from your library.
- Export or import the whole library as a file to back it up.
- Saved wheels live in this browser only. Clearing site data removes them, so export a backup for anything important.
Share & Embed
Share your wheel with a link or embed it on a website. Perfect for lessons, presentations, online activities, and more.
Import, Export & Download
Import entry lists, export wheel data, download wheel images, and print results for offline use.
- Import entries from a file or export them as CSV or text.
- Download the wheel as an image and print or export your results.
- Imported files are checked before they are used, with a message if something cannot be read.
Fullscreen & Presentation Mode
Expand the wheel to fullscreen for a distraction-free experience. Great for classrooms, meetings, games, and group events.
- Fullscreen shows a large wheel and hides the editing panels.
- Press Escape to leave fullscreen and return to your previous layout.
- The result stays readable at presentation size.
Free, Browser-Based & Easy to Use
Use it directly in your browser without installing software or creating an account. Works on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
- Nothing to install and no account or payment needed to spin.
- The layout adapts to desktop, tablet and mobile, with large touch targets.
- All controls can be used with a keyboard.
- Free to Use
Start spinning without paying.
- No Sign-Up
Use the wheel without creating an account.
- Easy to Customize
Add, remove, shuffle, or reset your entries.
- Random Selection
Each spin selects from your currently enabled entries.
What Is a Wheel of Names?
A Wheel of Names is a random name picker that selects one eligible name from a list you provide. Add names, press Spin, and read the selected name as the result or winner.
Enabled names become wheel entries and segments. The pointer identifies the selected segment when the animation finishes. Use it to choose a person, volunteer or turn from your own list.
How to Use the Wheel of Names
Add or edit your names, press Spin, and see the selected name. Review the enabled entries first so the picker uses the people you intend to include.
1. Add Your Names
Type or paste names into the entry list. Edit labels and enable the names you want included before spinning.
2. Spin the Wheel
Press Spin when your entries are ready. The picker selects an enabled entry first, then the wheel animates to reveal it.
3. Get a Random Winner
The selected name appears as the result. You can spin again, remove the winner when appropriate, check previous results, or update the entries for your next spin.
After a result, use Spin Again to keep the pool or Remove Winner to remove the selected entry. Dismiss closes the result. History shows previous results; Shuffle changes list order, and Reset restores the original example names, settings and empty history.
What Can You Use a Random Name Picker For?
Use a random name picker for classroom student selection, choosing volunteers, game turns, presentation order and family or friend activities. A simple draw chooses one eligible entry at a time.
Giveaways & Raffles
Need to select participants or winners? Use eligible participant names for a simple draw. For dedicated winner selection, follow the links below.
Teams & Groups
If your goal is to divide several people rather than choose one winner, use the Team Picker or Group Picker to create balanced groups from your participant list.
Volunteers & Turns
Pick a volunteer or decide whose turn is next from a list of names. For choices beyond people, use the dedicated Decision Wheel.
Games & Activities
Choose who starts a game or takes the next turn. Add family members or friends for a simple activity together.
How Does the Wheel of Names Pick a Winner?
When you press Spin, the picker chooses one enabled entry before the animation starts. It calculates the final rotation for that entry, then the wheel moves so the pointer reveals the same name.
How the Wheel of Names Works
- Add NamesEnabled names form the entry pool.
- Press SpinYou initiate the selection.
- Secure Random SelectionWeb Crypto supplies random values.
- Winner SelectedThe selected entry determines the final rotation.
- Wheel AnimatesThe wheel moves toward that entry’s segment.
- Name DisplayedThe pointer and result show the same name.
Is the Wheel of Names Random?
Yes. The picker uses random values from your browser’s Web Crypto API. Rejection sampling discards values that would create an uneven mapping to enabled entries.
Selection determines the winner. The animation reveals it. The animation is a visual presentation of the selected result, not the source of randomness. Each spin makes a fresh selection; result history is not used to make a name due.
If secure random values are unavailable, the tool reports an error and no winner is selected.
Does Every Name Have an Equal Chance?
Each enabled entry has an equal selection chance. If each name appears once, every name has the same chance: 4 names = 25% each, 5 names = 20% each, and 10 names = 10% each.
The chance per entry is 1 divided by the number of enabled entries. Disabled entries are excluded, and repeated names count as separate entries.
Equal Names, Equal Chances
One entry per name
- A
- B
- C
- D
Duplicate-entry probability
- A
- A
- B
- C
What Happens If You Add the Same Name Twice?
Duplicates are separate eligible entries. With Ali, Sara, John, Emma, each entry has a 25% chance. With Ali, Ali, Sara, John, Ali occupies 2 of 4 entries (50%); Sara and John each occupy 1 of 4 (25%).
Ali = 2 of 4 entries in the duplicate example. Each copy has its own entry ID and equal chance. This is duplicate-entry behavior, not a dedicated weighting control. To give each person one equal chance, include each name once and check that all intended entries are enabled.
Can You Remove a Winner and Spin Again?
Yes. Remove Winner deletes the selected entry by its unique ID before the next spin. It does not delete every entry with the same name or erase the earlier result from history.
If two entries both say Ali and one selected Ali entry is removed, the other Ali entry can remain. Spin Again keeps the current pool; removing an entry changes the pool and the next-spin probabilities. With no enabled entries, add or enable a name before spinning.
Spin Again After a Winner
Illustrative entries and selected entry, not live results or a recommendation.
- Names Before Spin
Ali (entry 1) / Ali (entry 2) / Sara / John
- Selected Name
Ali (entry 1), in this illustration.
Keep Winner
All four entries remain eligible.
Remove Winner
Remove entry 1; Ali (entry 2), Sara and John remain.
- Spin Again
Choose from the enabled entries that remain.
Does Wheel of Names Save My Names?
Where browser storage is available, the wheel remembers names, settings and the latest 100 results locally in the same browser/device. It uses localStorage; this is not account or cloud saving, cross-device syncing or a shareable saved wheel.
Browser settings, clearing site data or private browsing can prevent or remove saved state. When storage is unavailable, the wheel still works for the current page session. Reset restores the original preset and clears its history.
Wheel of Names Examples
These are illustrative entry lists, not live results or fabricated winners. Replace them with the people or groups eligible for your activity.
Classroom
Ava / Liam / Mia / Noah
Game night
Alex / Sam / Jamie / Taylor
Presentation order
Team A / Team B / Team C / Team D
Participant draw
Ali / Sara / John / Emma
Wheel of Names vs Other Random Tools
Pick the tool that matches what you want to select. This homepage handles names and any custom list; specialist tools cover ready-made lists and specific selection jobs.
Pick the Right Random Tool
- NamesWheel of Names
Pick a person from your list.
- ChoicesRandom Wheel
Any custom list: activities, foods, tasks and more.
- DecisionDecision Wheel
Choose among several acceptable options.
- Yes / NoYes or No Wheel
Get a binary random answer.
- NumbersNumber Wheel
Pick from numbers or an integer range.
Random Wheel and Wheel Spinner: Make a Custom Spinning Wheel
Wheel of Names also works as a free random wheel and wheel spinner for any list, not only names. Replace the four default entries with your own choices, press Spin, and the pointer selects one entry at random with equal odds for every entry.
How to make a custom spinning wheel
- Replace the default entries, or choose Clear all entries to start with an empty wheel.
- Add one entry at a time, or paste a list with one choice per line and choose Add pasted entries.
- Edit or delete entries, switch entries on or off, and use Shuffle to change the order.
- Open the wheel settings to set a wheel title, choose automatic, Ocean or Orchard segment colors, set the spin time from 1 to 10 seconds, and turn sound and the celebration effect on or off. These settings change the look and feel; they never choose the winning entry.
- Press Spin and read the entry under the pointer. Use fullscreen when you show the wheel to a group.
- Keep the winner eligible or remove it, then spin again. The last 100 winners appear in the winner history.
What can you put on a random wheel
Anything short enough to read on a segment: names, activities, foods, tasks, games, topics, destinations, numbers or custom choices. The limit is 500 entries with up to 200 characters each.
Popular ways to use a random wheel
- Make a quick decision: add restaurants, movies or weekend plans. For everyday choices, try the decision wheel.
- Classroom activities: put lesson topics, questions or warm-up exercises on the wheel and show the result to the class. To choose students, use the name wheel above.
- Games and challenges: list the actions for a game round and let each spin reveal the next challenge.
- Choose what to eat: add your meal options, or start with the what to eat wheel.
- Pick a task: enter chores, exercises or study topics and choose one to tackle next.
- Creative prompts: add drawing prompts or creative activities, or try the what to draw wheel.
- Group fun and teams: spin for turn order and icebreakers, or use the team picker to split a group.
For specific jobs you can also try the number wheel, letter wheel, country wheel or animal wheel. Teachers, event organizers and streamers use the same wheel for students, giveaways and live draws.
Random wheel examples to copy and paste
Delete the default entries and paste one of these lists as a starting point. They are suggestions to type or paste in, not extra controls.
- What to eat: Pizza, Tacos, Pasta, Sushi
- Activity: Movie, Gaming, Walk, Reading
- Workout: Running, Cycling, Push-ups, Yoga
- Classroom: Quiz, Reading, Group Work, Discussion
- Classroom topic: Space, Habitats, Weather, Inventions
- Chores: Dishes, Vacuuming, Laundry, Cleaning
- Household task: Water plants, Sort a drawer, Wipe counters, Take out recycling
- Games: Chess, Cards, Trivia, Charades
- Game challenge: Tell a riddle, Draw in 30 seconds, Hum a tune, Balance a book
- Weekend plans: Cinema, Park, Shopping, Stay Home
- Weekend activity: Trail walk, Museum visit, Picnic, Board games
- Destination: Beach, Botanical garden, Lakeside, Old town
- Creative activity: Collage, Clay modeling, Photography, Story writing
Wheel of Names at a Glance
| Cost | Free, no account needed |
|---|---|
| Entries | Up to 500, each up to 200 characters |
| How the result is chosen | Browser secure random generator; every entry has an equal chance, and duplicate labels count as separate chances |
| Your data | Entries and the last 100 winners stay in your browser; nothing is sent to a server |
| Controls | Add, paste, edit, delete, shuffle, clear all, remove winner, reset, fullscreen |
| Settings | Wheel title, segment colors (automatic, Ocean or Orchard), spin time 1 to 10 seconds, sound, celebration effect |
| Accessibility | Sound only after you press Spin; moving effects skipped with reduced motion |
More Ways to Use the Wheel of Names
Wheel of Names is a free online spinner wheel and random name picker, also known as a name wheel, prize wheel or random picker wheel. It is used by teachers, event organizers, streamers and anyone who needs a fair, quick random selection from a list.
Is a random wheel the same as a wheel spinner?
Yes. Random wheel, wheel spinner, spinner wheel and spin the wheel all describe a tool that picks one entry from your list at random and shows the result on a spinning wheel. Wheel of Names does this for names and for any other choices. For a quick yes or no answer use the yes or no wheel, and for everyday choices the decision wheel.
How many entries can I add to the wheel?
You can add up to 500 entries, with up to 200 characters each. When more than 40 entries are active, the wheel labels are hidden, but every entry still has an equal chance. Short labels and smaller lists are easier to read on the wheel.
Can I change the wheel title, spin time or sound?
Yes. In the wheel settings you can set a wheel title, choose automatic, Ocean or Orchard segment colors, set the spin time from 1 to 10 seconds, and turn the spin sound and the celebration effect on or off. Sound starts only after you press Spin, and moving effects are skipped when your device is set to reduced motion.
Can I see my previous results?
Yes. The last 100 winners are saved in your browser and shown in the winner history with the newest first. History does not exclude earlier winners automatically, so use the remove option if you do not want a name picked again. Clear history removes the saved list, and Reset wheel and history also restores the original entries and settings. Nothing is sent to a server.
Can I use the wheel in a virtual meeting or presentation?
Yes. Share your screen, open the wheel in fullscreen mode, and spin so everyone sees the result at the same time. It works well for icebreakers, turn order, quick team decisions and live giveaways.
Is the Wheel of Names free to use?
Yes. It is a free online random wheel and name picker. You do not need an account, and your entries stay in your browser.
Can I pick students without choosing the same student twice?
Yes. After each spin, use the remove option on the winner and spin again. Each student gets one turn until everyone has been picked, and you can put all the names back to start a new round. See the classroom name picker guide.
How do I run a fair giveaway or raffle with a spinning wheel?
Add every entry once, spin on screen so participants can watch, and announce the result. Every entry has the same chance, so this is an equal-odds wheel rather than a weighted prize wheel. Check the rules for prize draws and sweepstakes where you live before you run a giveaway. Try the giveaway picker or the raffle picker.
Can I use a name wheel for Secret Santa or a gift exchange?
You can add the names, spin, and remove each name as it is drawn so nobody is picked twice. Because the result is shown on screen, keep the screen private if the pairings should stay secret.
How do I split people into teams or groups?
For two or more teams, the team picker and group picker divide a list of names for you. For turns or a single volunteer, the wheel is enough. More ideas are in the teams and groups guide.
Can a wheel help me decide what to watch, eat or do?
Yes. Add the movies, meals, chores or activities you are considering and spin. For food, you can also start from the what to eat wheel. Use a spin only for low-stakes choices.
What is the difference between a random name picker and a random number generator?
A random number generator returns a number from a range. A random name picker returns one entry from a list you provide, such as a student, a prize entry or a volunteer. If you need a number, use the number wheel.
Is the Wheel of Names the same as other spinner wheels?
The idea is similar: you provide a list and the wheel picks one entry at random. Wheel of Names focuses on a simple page, equal odds for every entry, secure browser randomness, and names that stay in your browser. Read how random wheels work for the details.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Find quick answers to the most common questions about our spinning tools.
What is a Wheel of Names?
A Wheel of Names is a random name picker. Add names, enable the entries you want included, and press Spin to select one name from your list.
How do I randomly pick a name?
Type or paste your names, review the enabled entries, and press Spin. The selected name appears in the result panel and at the pointer.
Is the Wheel of Names random?
Yes. It uses random values from your browser’s Web Crypto API with rejection sampling to avoid an uneven mapping to eligible entries. Selection happens before the wheel animation starts.
Does every name have an equal chance?
Each enabled entry has an equal chance. If each name appears once, four names have a 25% chance each; five have 20% each; ten have 10% each.
What happens if I add the same name twice?
Duplicates are separate entries. In Ali, Ali, Sara, John, Ali occupies 2 of 4 eligible entries (50%). Sara and John each occupy 1 of 4 (25%).
Can I remove a winner after spinning?
Yes. Remove Winner deletes the selected entry by its unique ID. Another entry with the same name can remain. Spin Again keeps the current pool; removing an entry changes the pool for the next spin.
Does Wheel of Names save my names?
Where browser storage is available, names, settings and the latest 100 results are saved locally in the same browser/device. This is not account or cloud saving, cross-device sync or a shareable saved wheel.
Can I use Wheel of Names for teams, raffles or giveaways?
Use the name wheel for a simple individual selection. For splitting people into teams or groups, use Team Picker or Group Picker. For dedicated winner selection, use Raffle Picker or Giveaway Picker.
No questions match your search.
Explore More Random Tools
Need something more specific than a name picker?
Decision Wheel
Let the wheel choose between different options.
Yes or No Wheel
Get a random yes-or-no result.
Number Wheel
Randomly select from a range of numbers.
Letter Wheel
Spin to choose a random letter.
Country Wheel
Randomly choose a country.
Animal Wheel
Pick a random animal.
What to Draw Wheel
Get a random drawing idea when you don't know what to draw.
What to Eat Wheel
Let the wheel help choose what to eat.
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