Secret Santa Name Picker

Paste in your group's names and draw Secret Santa matches in one click. Nobody draws themselves, you can keep couples apart, and there is nothing to sign up for.

Names (one per line)

You need at least three people.

Keep these pairs apart (optional)

One pair per line, like Maya + Jordan. They will never draw each other.

How the Secret Santa name picker works

Type each person's name on its own line, add any pairs that should not be matched, and press the draw button. The picker shuffles the list and links everyone in a single loop, so each person gives one gift and gets one gift, and no one is ever matched with themselves. Press the button again for a fresh draw if you want to start over.

Each match is hidden until you tap reveal. That makes it easy to pass one screen around a room: hand it to a person, let them reveal their match, hide the list, and pass it on. For a group that is not in the same place, the Secret Santa generator does the same draw and emails each person only their own name.

Name picker, name generator or name draw?

People search for this tool in a lot of ways, but it is the same job: take a list of names and decide who buys for whom. A name draw is the paper version, with names folded in a hat. A name picker or name generator does it with a shuffle, which is faster and cannot be rigged by someone peeking at the folds. The classic hat draw also falls apart when someone pulls their own name, because you have to put everything back and start again. The picker never produces that result.

Before you draw, settle the basics: the budget, the exchange date, and who is in. Our Secret Santa questionnaire helps everyone share sizes and favorites so the gifts land, and the Secret Santa rules cover the etiquette. If you have an odd number of people, the loop still works, and our guide to Secret Santa with an odd number of people explains the options.

Good to know

Secret Santa name picker questions

What is a Secret Santa name picker?+

A Secret Santa name picker takes a list of names and randomly pairs each person with someone to buy a gift for, making sure nobody draws themselves. It replaces the classic names-in-a-hat draw with a fair, instant result.

How do I draw names for Secret Santa online?+

Type or paste everyone's name, one per line, add any pairs that should not match, and press the draw button. Each person is matched to one other person. To keep matches secret, use the reveal buttons one at a time or send private matches with the free generator.

Can I stop certain people from drawing each other?+

Yes. Add an exclusion such as "Sam + Alex" on its own line and the picker will never match those two to each other. This is useful for couples, roommates, and anyone who already buys each other gifts.

Is the name picker really free?+

Yes. It runs in your browser, it is free, and there is nothing to download. The names you type are not sent to a server or saved.

How do I keep the matches secret?+

If you are drawing for a group, the easiest way is to use the free Secret Santa generator, which emails each person only their own match. You can also run the picker yourself, reveal one match at a time, and hide the list before the next person looks.

Draw once, share privately

Draw names with the free generator and every person gets their own match by email, with wish lists built in.

🎁 Start your Secret Santa free

Free forever · Wish lists built in · No app to download