Randomizer

Name Picker

Pick random names from a group

Add names to get started

About Name Picker

Enter your team list and pick one name at random, for assigning tasks or deciding who goes first without argument.

Random selection removes a specific problem: the person who volunteers is usually the same person every time, and the person chosen by memory is usually whoever spoke most recently.

How to use it

  1. 1Enter your list of names.
  2. 2Pick one at random.
  3. 3Remove picked names if you are working through the whole list.

Using it well

  • Be clear in advance about what the selection decides, so it does not look arbitrary after the fact.
  • Remove names as you go when assigning multiple things, or the same person can be picked repeatedly.
  • Use it consistently rather than only for unpopular tasks, which otherwise makes the tool feel like a punishment mechanism.
  • Let people swap if there is a genuine reason. Randomness is for fairness, not for enforcing outcomes that make no sense.

Frequently asked questions

Can the same name be picked twice?

Yes, unless you remove names after selection. For working through a list without repeats, remove each name once it has been chosen.

Why use random selection for tasks?

Because volunteering produces the same volunteers and choosing by memory favours whoever is most visible. Randomising distributes work that would otherwise fall unevenly.

Is this suitable for classrooms?

Yes, it is one of the most common uses. Random selection raises participation and prevents the same students answering every question.