Name Draw
Perfect for long lists. Paste the names, enter how many winners and reserves you want, and we’ll draw fairly.
Participants
One name per line, or separate with commas. Hundreds or thousands of names are fine.
The draw is made in your browser with cryptographic randomness — fair and transparent.
Other Draw & Raffle Tools
Draw names online from a long list
When there are lots of participants a wheel stops being practical — that’s exactly what Name Draw is for. Paste hundreds or even thousands of names as text, enter how many winners and reserves to pick, and draw. Because the result is decided by your browser’s cryptographic randomness it is fair and transparent; every participant has an equal chance.
How do you use it?
Paste the names into the box, one per line (or separated by commas). Fill in “Number of winners” and “Number of reserves” and press “Draw”. After a short shuffle animation the winners and reserves are listed in order. If you’re not happy, or want a new round, just press “Draw Again”.
What are reserves for?
If one of the main winners can’t take part or doesn’t claim their place, the reserves step in one by one. It’s especially handy for situations that need a main + reserve list, such as apartment/building draws, school registrations, workplace and association raffles.
A short history of lotteries and drawing lots
"Casting lots" — randomly picking a name or object — is one of humanity’s oldest fairness mechanisms. In Ancient Athens, judges and council members were selected by lot; the "kleroterion" was a machine invented for exactly this. The Roman Senate used similar systems. Han-dynasty China (200 BC) held the first state lotteries to fund public projects. Modern lotteries began in Belgium in 1466 for the poor. Today, from Instagram and YouTube giveaways to corporate prize draws, classroom pickers and family decisions, random name drawing is part of millions of people’s daily lives.
Frequently asked questions
How large a list can I draw from?
There’s practically no limit; you can paste and draw hundreds or thousands of names at once. The tool stays fast even as the list grows.
Are the results really random and fair?
Yes. The list is shuffled with your browser’s cryptographic random number generator and the winners are picked from it. The result isn’t known in advance and no name is favoured.
What is the number of reserves for?
It sets the names that will step in if a main winner drops out or can’t attend. They’re listed in order right after the winners.
How should I enter the names?
Write one name per line or separate them with commas. Empty lines are ignored automatically.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes. It works smoothly on phones, tablets and computers.
How many names can I add to a draw?
In principle unlimited — in practice performance drops above 10,000 entries. Lists of 1-500 finish in seconds; corporate draws with thousands run smoothly too.
How many winners can I pick?
As many as you like. Set the winner count anywhere from 1 up to the total number of participants. Selected names are removed from the pool, so no name is picked twice (unless duplicates exist).
How do I use it for an Instagram or YouTube giveaway?
Copy the usernames of commenters and paste them into the list. Press "Draw Winner" — the result can be shared as a screenshot. You can also pick backup winners in the same run.
Are the names and data I enter stored?
No. Everything runs only in your browser; the names and lists you enter are never sent to a server, stored or shared with anyone. When you close the page, this data is gone.
Does it take up storage on my device?
No, it takes up no storage at all. Online Kura is not a downloaded app; it runs entirely in your browser and nothing is installed on your phone or computer. If you like, you can add it to your home screen and use it like an app — with none of the storage.
How do I add Online Kura to my phone’s home screen?
iPhone (Safari): open the page, tap the Share icon and choose “Add to Home Screen”. Android (Chrome): open the three-dot menu at the top right and tap “Add to Home screen” (or “Install app”). Then you can open Online Kura like an app with one tap.