Wheel of Names
Add a list of names, spin the wheel and get one picked fairly at random. It's the name picker teachers, raffle hosts and team captains reach for.
✓ 100% Free
No hidden charges, ever
✓ No Sign-Up
Just add entries and spin
✓ Fair & Random
A fair pick, every time
✓ Any Device
Phone, tablet or desktop
FEATURES
Why People Love This Wheel
Unlimited Names
Paste a long list in one go. Fifty names or five hundred, there's no limit to hit.
Weighted Entries
Add *2 after a name and it gets a double slice, so a bigger chance to land. The wheel shows the bigger slice openly, so it stays honest.
Remove Winners
Take the winner off with one click, or switch on auto-remove so no name comes up twice.
Save Your Wheel
Your list is saved in your browser, so you don't have to type it all again next time.
Share With a Link
Send the link and the other person opens the same wheel. The list travels with it.
Fair and Visible
Every name gets an equal slice and the result happens in front of everyone. Nothing to argue about.
GETTING STARTED
How It Works
1
Add Your Entries
Type or paste your list, one option per line. Names, numbers, prizes, foods — anything you like.
2
Customize the Wheel
Change the colors, shuffle the order, set weights with *2, choose a 3, 6 or 10 second spin, and save your wheel for later.
3
Spin and Get a Winner
Tap SPIN and watch the wheel land on a fair random result that everyone can see.
USE CASES
Popular Ways to Use It
In the Classroom
Use it for who answers next or whose turn it is to read. Nobody can guess who's up, so every kid stays alert.
Raffles and Giveaways
Paste in your entrants and spin live. When the audience watches the winner come up on screen, they tend to trust it, and you skip the arguments in the comments.
Teams and Groups
Pull names one by one to build teams, or spin to choose captains and group leaders. No one can say you picked your friends first.
Parties and Games
Fix the turn order, decide who gets the dare or who plays first. Works for board games, trivia nights and anything else where nobody wants to volunteer.
What Is a Wheel of Names?
A wheel of names is a tool that turns a list of names into a spinning wheel. Every name gets its own slice, all the same size, and whichever one sits under the pointer when the wheel stops is the winner. You'll see it called a name wheel, a names wheel or a wheel of names spinner, but they all do the same job: pick one name from your list without anyone choosing it.
The good part is that the pick happens in the open. Teachers, streamers and hosts like it for that reason. You don't need anyone to take your word for anything, because everybody in the room watched the name come up. That's hard to argue with.
How to Use This Name Wheel
Type or paste your names into the box, one name per line. The wheel builds itself as you write, so you can see each new name show up as a slice. Names can be first names, full names or nicknames, whatever works for your group.
If you'd like a different order, hit shuffle. When you're ready, press the SPIN button or just tap the wheel.
When it stops, a popup shows the winner. From there you can spin again or remove that name from the wheel. If auto-remove is on, the winner drops off by itself after every spin, which is handy when you need several people in a row and don't want repeats. Turn it off if you'd rather keep every name in play.
Need a fresh round? Clear the list and start over.
Tips for a Clean Name List
- Check for duplicates, unless someone really does deserve two entries.
- Delete empty lines so the list is easy to look over.
- Running a raffle and want privacy? Use ticket numbers or usernames instead of full names.
- Do one practice spin before you go live.
- Very long lists make the text small. Somewhere between 10 and 100 names is the easiest to read.
Why a Wheel Beats Picking by Hand
Hats and paper slips have been around forever, and they work until a slip goes missing or someone wonders if the folded ones got picked more often. A number generator is fair, but it's dull. A name just appears, and nobody saw how it got there. You end up asking the room to trust it.
The wheel gives you both. It's fair because every name has the same size slice, and it has some drama because the spin slows down and you don't know where it'll stop. Since everyone sees the result being decided, they accept it, even the person who was hoping for a different name. That's the part a hat can't give you.
Popular Ways to Use It
✓ In the Classroom
✓ Raffles and Giveaways
✓ Teams and Groups
✓ Parties and Games
A wheel of names is a tool that turns a list of names into a spinning wheel.
You May Also Like
Yes or No Wheel
Stuck on a small choice? Let the wheel say yes or no.
Random Name Picker
Pick one name from a list without anyone arguing about it.
Number Wheel
Spin to land on a random number for quick games and draws.
Color Picker Wheel
Land on a random color for art projects or games.
GOOD TO KNOW
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the wheel of names really random?
Yes. Every name has an equal slice, and the stopping point is picked at random on each spin. Earlier spins have no effect on the next one, so a name that just won isn't more or less likely to come up again.
How many names can I add?
As many as you like. Long lists work, though the names get smaller on the wheel. Somewhere between 10 and 100 names is the most comfortable to read. If you have more, it still spins fine.
Can I pick more than one winner?
Yes. Spin again as many times as you need. Use the remove button or turn on auto-remove and the same name won't be picked twice. That's the easy way to draw a top three or a whole team.
Do I need an account to save my wheel?
No. Your wheel saves in your browser, so there's nothing to sign up for. If you share a link, the list goes along with it and whoever opens it sees the same wheel.
Can I change the wheel colors and how long it spins?
Yes. Tap Colors to pick one of seven color sets, and press the 3s, 6s or 10s button under the entries box to choose how long the wheel spins. Both are saved in your browser, so they are still set on your next visit.
Ready to Spin?
Create your free wheel in seconds. No sign-up, no downloads, works on any device.