Step-by-step instructions
List the participants once
Enter one identifiable person or team per line. Add initials where people share a name and check the entry count before drawing.
Set the order rule
Decide whether the whole list determines turns or only the first person starts. Use Remove duplicates for accidentally repeated identical labels.
Draw and announce the order
Select Shuffle names. Copy the complete list so everyone can see their place; agree on any later changes before play begins.
Worked example
Six participants need a gift-selection order. The draw includes participants rather than gift labels, because each person needs one turn number.
One valid result is shown below. Your generated outcome will vary.
Example input
Alex Jamie Morgan Taylor Sam Jordan
Example result
1. Taylor 2. Jordan 3. Sam 4. Jamie 5. Morgan 6. Alex
The order settles who acts at each turn. Gift swaps, opening choices, and any final-turn rule remain part of the group’s exchange rules.
Publish the swap rules before revealing turn numbers
Agree on whether gifts can be taken, whether a gift can move more than once, and when an exchange ends. The name randomizer does not track gifts or enforce these rules. Keep the saved order visible during the exchange and use initials when two participants share a name. A gift-exchange order is not a Secret Santa recipient assignment.
Settings and limits to check
The example has 6 retained entries. This tool shuffles the full participant list. It does not choose a winner, divide people into teams, or prevent a person from drawing the same position in a later independent draw. At least two entries are needed. A person entered under two different labels remains two entries even when Remove duplicates is enabled.
Settings used in this example
Remove duplicate entries: On
Keep a usable copy of the result
Use Copy to place the current result in your own notes, or Download to keep a text file. Keep the eligible input list with the result when you need to explain which entries took part. A new generation replaces the displayed result rather than adding to a saved history.
The tool runs in your browser and does not upload your input. Save the result before refreshing or leaving the page. If other people need to use the same outcome, share your saved copy rather than asking them to generate another independent result.
Frequently asked questions
Does this assign who buys a gift for whom?
No. Use Secret Santa Generator for giver-to-recipient assignments that exclude self-gifts.
Does everyone appear once in the output?
Every retained entry appears once. Check for duplicate people under different spellings if the rule is one turn per person.
Can the same person go first next time?
Yes. Separate shuffles have no memory. Keep your own rotation if a different starter is required each round.
What should I check in the worked example?
The order settles who acts at each turn. Gift swaps, opening choices, and any final-turn rule remain part of the group’s exchange rules.