What it does
Teachers, coaches and team leads often need fair, random groups or a random name for the next question. Paste your list of names and this page shuffles them into groups that are as even as possible, or picks one name at a time. It uses your browser’s secure random numbers, so every order is equally likely.
Names stay on this page unless you choose to remember them. To plan the lesson around it, use the weekly planner, and to mark the group work afterwards, try the rubric grade calculator.
How to use it
- Type or paste the names, one per line or separated by commas. An example class of 10 is filled in.
- In Make groups, choose how to split them and type the number. The groups appear straight away.
- Press Shuffle again for a new mix, then Copy groups or Print.
- In Pick a name, press Pick a name each time you need someone.
What each setting does
- Number of groups: makes exactly that many groups. Sizes differ by at most one, and the bigger groups come first.
- People per group: makes as many groups as needed so no group has more than that number (names ÷ size, rounded up), then evens out the sizes.
- Remove picked names: ticked, nobody is picked twice until you press Put everyone back. Unticked, anyone can come up again.
- Remember this list: off by default. Ticked, the list is kept in this browser only, for next time. Forget saved list deletes it.
- Print prints only the groups.
Worked example
Ten names into 3 groups: 10 ÷ 3 is 3 with 1 left over, so one group gets 4 and two get 3 (4, 3, 3). With People per group set to 4, 10 ÷ 4 rounded up is 3 groups, and evening them out gives 4, 3, 3 again rather than 4, 4, 2. Picking names with Remove picked names ticked gives all 10 names once each, then says everyone has been picked.
FAQs
Is it really random? Yes. Each shuffle uses crypto.getRandomValues, the same source browsers use for security.
Can I keep two people apart? Not yet. Press Shuffle again until you are happy with the mix.
Are duplicate names merged? No. Each line counts as one person, so add a surname initial to tell two people apart.
Where the numbers come from
- Fisher–Yates shuffle using the browser's crypto.getRandomValues; balanced group sizes. fibub's own working.
Standard scientific values, such as constants, atomic weights and melting points, are facts found in every textbook; we name where ours were checked. If you are an author or publisher and want a value, a credit or a table changed or removed, tell us and we will act quickly.
Last updated 2026-11-10.