Secret Santa Generator: Draw Names Online, No Sign-Up

Draw names for Secret Santa in a minute, with no sign-up and no email addresses. Type everyone’s name, add rules so couples or housemates don’t draw each other, then send each person a private link that shows only their own match. The organizer can join in without knowing who has whom. Prefer paper? Print the slips instead.

How to run a Secret Santa with this generator

1. Add everyone’s name, one per line. If two people share a name, add a last initial (Sam K, Sam T) so everyone knows which link is theirs.
2. Add rules if you need them. “Both ways” keeps a pair from drawing each other, which suits couples. Untick it for one-way rules, such as “Alex shouldn’t get Jordan again this year”.
3. Set the budget and date so they appear on every person’s reveal and nobody has to ask.
4. Press Draw names, then send each person their own link by text, WhatsApp, Slack or email. When they open it they tap to reveal the name.

Your list of names and rules is remembered in your browser, so next year you can open the page and draw again in seconds.

Why a generator is fairer than drawing from a hat

With a hat, someone pulls out their own name surprisingly often: in about 63% of draws for any group of four or more, which means redraws and everyone learning a little about who has whom. The generator never gives anyone their own name, follows every rule you set, and makes the random choices with your browser’s secure random number generator. The maths behind that 63% is in our article on Secret Santa draw odds.

The “one big circle” option links everyone in a single loop, so the gifts go round the whole group, which makes a nice reveal if you open presents one at a time. Without it, the draw can form smaller loops, such as two people who buy for each other.

Tips for a smooth gift exchange

• Agree the budget first and put it in the details box, so nobody spends three times more than everyone else.
• Set the date before you draw, so it appears in every link.
• Ask for a wish list or a few hints. A shared note where everyone lists two or three ideas saves a lot of guessing.
• Plan for remote people. The links work anywhere, so you can include family abroad and let them ship the gift directly.
• Keep the organizer honest. If you’re taking part, send the links without opening anyone else’s.

Frequently asked questions

Can the organizer take part?

Yes. The matches are hidden inside each person’s link, so as long as you only open your own, you won’t know who has whom. Only press “Show all matches” if you’re running the draw without taking part.

Do people need an account or an email address?

No. Nobody signs up and we don’t collect names or emails. The draw happens in your browser, and each match is stored inside its own link rather than on our server.

What happens if someone drops out after the draw?

Remove their name and press Draw names again, then send everyone their new link. Old links keep showing the old match, so tell people to use the new one.

Why does it say my rules are impossible?

Too many rules can leave someone with nobody they’re allowed to draw. In a group of three, for example, if Alex can’t draw Sam or Jordan, there is no one left. Remove a rule or add more people. The “one big circle” option is stricter, so untick it if a normal draw would work.

How many people can take part?

At least three. Large office groups work too; every person simply gets their own link.

Need a quick random pick instead? Try the random name picker or split a group with the team picker.