What is a name picker wheel?
A name picker wheel is a digital version of a prize wheel: each name gets a slice, the wheel spins and the pointer lands on someone. Teachers use it to choose who answers next, streamers and shops to pick giveaway winners, and teams to decide who presents first or who's on call.
The spinning makes the choice visible and fun, while the result comes from a fair random draw. Remove-the-winner mode lets you pick several people in turn without anyone coming up twice, and a running list keeps track of who has been picked.
How to use the Name Picker Wheel
1.Enter the names
One per line, up to 60. The wheel redraws as you type.
2.Spin
Press Spin the wheel. The winner is chosen fairly the moment you press, then the wheel lands on them.
3.Keep going
Tick Remove the winner to pick a second, third and fourth person without repeats.
Example: a class of eight
The default list has eight names:
- Names
- Aarav, Diya, Kabir, Meera, Rohan, Sara, Vivaan, Zoya
- Chance for each
- 1 in 8 (12.5%)
- Second spin with removal on
- 1 in 7 for each remaining name
With removal on, eight spins put the whole class in a random order.
Is the wheel fair?
Yes. The winner is chosen by your browser's cryptographic random generator the instant you press Spin, with every name equally likely, and the animation simply turns the wheel to land on that slice. How fast or long it spins has no effect on the result.
If your device asks for reduced motion, the wheel skips the animation and shows the winner straight away. The list of names is saved in the link, so a class list can be bookmarked.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the same list every lesson?
Yes. The names are kept in the page address; bookmark it and the list is there next time.
Does a name listed twice have more chances?
Yes. Each line is its own slice, so a name entered twice is twice as likely.
How many names can I add?
Up to 60. Beyond about 30 the labels get small, but every slice still counts equally.
Can I show it on a projector?
Yes. The page works full screen in any browser, and the winner is shown in large text under the wheel.
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