Pick one or multiple names from a list

Paste one entry per line, choose the number of picks and draw without replacement. Exact duplicates are removed by default; you can keep them as separate entries when you want repeated names to carry extra weight.

Names or entries, one per line

Up to 250,000 characters and 20,000 lines, including blank lines. Surrounding spaces are trimmed.

Keep duplicate entries as separate chances

Duplicates are matched exactly after trimming, with capitals distinguished. If kept, the same name can be picked more than once in a draw.

Entries in the draw pool: 0

Number of picks

A new draw uses the same full pool. Editing the list or options clears the displayed results.

Everything runs in this browser. Your inputs and results are not uploaded, stored by this tool or included in analytics.

How it works

Paste one name or entry on each line. Blank lines and surrounding spaces are ignored.
Choose how many entries to pick, and decide whether to keep exact duplicate entries.
Select Pick names. Copy the results, reset the displayed draw or pick again from the same list.

Names, entries and duplicate weighting

With the default setting, Ada, Grace and Ada on separate lines create a pool of two entries. Turning on duplicate entries creates a pool of three: Ada has two entries and Grace has one. Deduplication is case-sensitive, so Ada and ada remain separate. Spaces or commas within a line do not split a full name. For example, 4 distinct entries give each entry a 1 in 4 chance on the first pick. Drawing 2 removes each selected entry from that draw; either entry can appear again in a new draw.

Draw without replacement

Each entry can appear at most once in a single draw. If duplicate entries are enabled, the same displayed name can appear more than once because it represents multiple entries. After each draw, the original pool remains available; drawing again starts a new selection from that pool. Reset clears the results without changing the list.

Browser randomness and privacy

The picker uses the browser’s crypto.getRandomValues API and rejection sampling to avoid modulo bias, then selects entries with a partial shuffle. It does not upload your list, add names to URLs or save the pool between visits. This tool does not provide a certified raffle audit, entrant verification or compliance advice.

A simple classroom example

For the list Ada, Grace and Katherine, choose two picks. The draw returns two different entries in the order selected; a new draw may return a different pair or repeat the same pair. Editing the list, changing the duplicate policy or changing the number of picks clears the old results so they cannot be mistaken for a draw from the new pool.

Frequently asked questions

Can the same name be picked twice?

By default, exact duplicate names are removed and each remaining entry can be picked only once per draw. If you keep duplicates, identical displayed names may appear more than once because they are separate entries. Separate draws can also repeat names.

Does every person have the same chance?

Each entry has the same chance at each selection step. A person entered on multiple lines has more chances if duplicate entries are enabled. This tool cannot verify whether different entries refer to the same person.

How many names can I enter?

The limits shown above the list come from your device profile. Raw line count includes blank lines, and the character limit includes spaces and line breaks. The number of picks must be a whole number from one to the size of the resulting pool.

Are the names saved or sent to a server?

The picker processes the list in the current browser tab. It does not save the list or include names in analytics. Copying or sharing the result sends it only to the destination you choose.

Last reviewed: October 16, 2026