Random Name Picker for the Classroom
A free random name picker for the classroom: paste your class list and pick a child at random, with an option to keep going until everyone has had a turn before anyone repeats. It runs in your browser with no account and no signup.
- No signup
- Nothing to install
- Free forever
Paste your class list below to begin
How teachers use a random name picker
Hands-up questioning reaches the same confident children every lesson. A name picker on the board changes that in one move: everyone knows they might be next, so everyone stays in the thinking.
It works best paired with thinking time. Ask the question, give the whole class fifteen or twenty seconds to think — or to rehearse an answer with a partner — and only then spin. Picking first and asking second turns it into a test; picking last turns it into a discussion.
- Cold-call questioning, so participation is not optional
- Choosing who reads next, or who explains their method
- Picking a helper, a monitor or who goes first at a station
- Choosing which child shares their work under the visualiser
- Deciding order for a presentation without anyone arguing
No repeats until everyone has had a turn
Truly random picking will call the same child three times in a lesson and miss another entirely — and children notice, and they mind. The no-repeat option keeps a list of who has already been picked and takes them out of the pool until the whole class has had a turn, then starts again.
It is on by default because that is what most lessons need. Turn it off when you genuinely want each pick independent, such as choosing a prize winner.
Keeping it kind
Random questioning only works if being picked feels safe. Make it normal to say "can I have some more thinking time" or "can I come back to that" — and mean it. A class that has seen you accept those answers will stop dreading the spin.
For EAL learners and quieter children, tell them the question is coming before you spin, or let them rehearse the answer with a partner first. They still take a full turn; they just get to succeed at it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add my class?
Paste the names into the box, one per line. Your list is saved on that device, so it is ready the next time you open the page on the same computer.
Can it avoid picking the same child twice?
Yes, and it does by default. Every child is picked once before anyone is picked a second time. You can turn this off if you want each pick to be fully independent.
Are pupil names stored on a server?
No. Names never leave your browser — there is no account and no backend. They are kept in local storage on the device you typed them on, and clearing the list removes them.
What is the difference between this and the spinner wheel?
They do the same job with a different feel. The name picker is quick and quiet, and is built for class lists with a no-repeat option. The spinner wheel is a visual wheel that suits choosing between options, prizes or activities, and works well when you want a bit of drama.
Can I use it for things other than names?
Yes — anything you can list one per line. Teachers use it for spelling words, times tables, discussion prompts and reward choices.