A name wheel everyone can see
The reason a spinning wheel of names beats picking out of a hat on a shared screen is that the whole group watches the same draw. Every name is visible, every slice is the same size, and the result is obvious the moment the pointer stops.
Common ways people use it
- Classrooms — a random name picker for who answers next.
- Giveaways — draw a winner from entrants on stream or on a call.
- Standups — decide who speaks first without the awkward pause.
- Teams — use the team generator to split the same list into groups.
- Chores and turns — a neutral randomiser nobody can argue with.
Weights, elimination and saved wheels
Give a name a higher weight and it takes a bigger share of the wheel — useful for raffles where extra tickets should count. Elimination mode removes each winner so you can draw an entire class in order. Saved wheels keep your regular lists in this browser, ready for next time.
Related spinners
Need a quick decision instead of a name? Try the yes or no wheel, the picker wheel for any list, or spin the bottle for party turns.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a wheel of names?
- A wheel of names is a spinner divided into one slice per person. You spin it and the name under the pointer is the randomly selected winner, so nobody has to choose by hand.
- How do I spin the wheel with names?
- Paste or type each name into the list, press spin, and read the slice the pointer lands on. Use bulk paste to add a whole class or team list in one go.
- Can it pick a name without repeating?
- Yes. Turn on elimination mode on the picker wheel and each name is removed after it is drawn, so everyone gets a turn before anyone repeats.
- Is the random name picker fair?
- Yes. The winner is drawn from your browser's cryptographic random source, and equal slices mean equal odds no matter where a name sits on the wheel.
- Can I share my name wheel with someone else?
- Yes. Copy the share link and the whole list travels inside the URL, so the other person opens the same wheel — no account and no upload.
- Can I change the colours of the wheel?
- Yes. Tap the palette button at the top-right of the wheel to pick from nine themes — Classic, Rainbow, Candy, Neon, Ocean, Jungle, Sunset, Pastel and Birthday — or choose Default to restore the wheel's own colours. Spin the Bottle and Coin Toss have their own style menus for bottle designs and coin finishes.
- Is my wheel theme saved?
- Yes. Your chosen theme is stored in your browser and applied automatically to every wheel on the site on your next visit. The menu closes as soon as you pick a theme, and nothing is uploaded or tied to an account.
