Wheel of Names - Free Random Name Picker
The Wheel of Names is a free random name picker. Type or paste a list of names, spin the wheel, and it stops on one at random. Teachers use it as a random student picker for questions and classroom jobs, but it works just as well as a random name generator wheel for prizes, giveaways, team captains or deciding whose turn it is.
There’s nothing to sign up for or download. The wheel of names runs in any web browser, so you can put it on an interactive whiteboard or projector and spin it in front of the whole class.
What is the Wheel of Names?
A wheel of names is a spinning wheel split into coloured segments, one for each name on your list. When you spin it, it slows down and stops on a single name, chosen at random. Because everyone can watch it spin, the result is visibly fair, which is why spinner wheels are so popular in classrooms.
How to Make a Wheel of Names
- Enter your names – Type or paste them into the box, one per line. A column copied from a spreadsheet or class list works fine.
- Spin the wheel – Click Spin the Wheel of Names and watch it turn.
- See who it picked – The chosen name appears with a burst of confetti. Remove that name from the wheel, or leave it in so it can be picked again.
Features of the Wheel of Names
- Any list you like – Names, numbers, topics, questions, tasks or prizes: anything you can type can go on the wheel.
- Remove or keep the winner – Remove each name once it’s picked so everyone gets a turn, or leave names in for a fresh random pick every time.
- Truly random – Every name on the wheel has the same chance of being picked on each spin.
- Big and colourful – Bright segments, a smooth spin and confetti make it easy to see from the back of the room.
- Works on any device – Interactive whiteboards, projectors, laptops, Chromebooks, tablets and phones.
- Your classes and photos – With a free Seating Plan account, load a class onto the wheel in one click and, if your class has photos, show each student’s photo when the wheel lands on them.
- Spin from your phone – Signed-in teachers can spin the wheel from the free Seating Plan companion app for iOS and Android.
Why use a random name picker in your classroom?
- Fair questioning – Every student has the same chance of being picked, so it isn’t always the same hands going up.
- Everyone stays alert – When anyone could be picked next, the whole class keeps thinking about the answer.
- No arguments – Picking team captains, helpers or who presents first is quick, and nobody can say you chose favourites.
- A bit of fun – The spin builds anticipation, which livens up routine moments like starter questions.
Ways to Use the Wheel of Names in the Classroom
- Cold calling – Pick who answers the next question, instead of waiting for hands up.
- Reading and presenting – Choose who reads aloud next, or the order groups present in.
- Classroom jobs – Pick monitors, helpers or who hands out the books.
- Revision – Put topics or questions on the wheel and spin to decide what to revise next.
- Rewards – Run a prize draw for students who have earned a reward.
A Random Assignment Generator
The wheel isn’t limited to names. To use it as a random assignment generator, put tasks, topics or roles on the wheel and spin once for each student, removing each one as it’s allocated. To divide a whole class into groups in one go, our Random Group Generator is quicker.
Ideas for using the Wheel of Names beyond the classroom
- Family game nights: Use the wheel to decide who goes first or to assign roles in a game.
- Office meetings: Randomly select team members for presentations or tasks.
- Events and parties: Assign random prizes or choose participants for games.
- Giveaways: Use the wheel to randomly select winners for your contests.
Wheel of Names FAQs
Is the Wheel of Names free?
Yes. The Wheel of Names is completely free to use, with no account or download needed.
Is the wheel really random?
Yes. Each spin picks a name at random, and every name on the wheel has exactly the same chance of being chosen.
How do I stop the same name being picked twice?
When the wheel picks a name, choose to remove it from the wheel. Keep spinning until everyone has had a turn.
Can I use my class list?
Yes. You can paste in any list, or sign in to Seating Plan and choose one of your classes to load it straight onto the wheel.
Does the Wheel of Names work on an interactive whiteboard?
Yes. It runs in any modern web browser, so you can spin it on an interactive whiteboard, projector, laptop, tablet or phone.
Integrating the Wheel with Seating Plan
Seating Plan is the world’s favourite classroom seating plan generator, used by 170,198 teachers around the world. Since your class lists are already in Seating Plan (either manually, or synced via Wonde, Clever, Skolon, ClassLink, Microsoft Teams or Google Classroom), the Wheel of Names is easy to integrate quickly into your classroom practice.
More Free Teacher Tools
Seating Plan also has a free random group generator for splitting a class into groups, and an exam timer with extra time for tests and mock exams.
Looking for a free seating chart maker? Try the free seating plan generator: no login needed.