Names
Type or paste your names into the input box — one name per line — then click Spin. The wheel builds itself automatically from your list, assigns each entry a coloured segment, and launches into a spin. It decelerates naturally and lands on a winner, announced with a trophy popup and confetti. You can add, edit, or remove names between every spin, and your list is saved automatically in the browser so it's still there next time you visit.
Any situation where you need to pick one name — or one option — from a list fairly and instantly. Here are some of the most popular uses:
Choosing by chance is one of humanity's oldest decision-making methods. Ancient Greeks used a device called the kleroterion — a stone slab with slots for tokens — to randomly assign citizens to jury and government roles, removing any possibility of bribery or favoritism. The Romans used a similar system called sortition, and the practice appears throughout the Bible in the form of casting lots. The principle behind every one of these methods is the same as our spinning wheel: every participant has an equal, unmanipulated chance.
The spinning wheel format specifically became popular in game shows and carnival culture during the 20th century, where the theatrical build-up of a slowing wheel made the reveal exciting rather than just mechanical. That same psychology is why a name picker wheel feels more fun and satisfying than a simple random number generator — the spin creates anticipation, and the gradual deceleration makes the result feel earned.
Human beings are poor random number generators. When asked to "pick randomly," people unconsciously avoid certain patterns — they're unlikely to pick the same person twice in a row, they tend to favour names at the top of a list, and social dynamics can influence who gets chosen. A spinner wheel removes all of that. It doesn't know who won last time, it can't feel awkward about picking the same person again, and it has no opinion about anyone on the list. Every spin is genuinely impartial.
Yes — each segment of the wheel is drawn at equal size regardless of how many names are on the list, so every entry always has exactly a 1-in-N chance of winning. The wheel's stopping position is determined by a random number generated the instant you press Spin, seeded with high-entropy browser data. There is no weighting, no memory of past spins, and no way to influence or predict the outcome. Whether you have 2 names or 50, the draw is always perfectly fair.