How to Use the Wheel
TheNameWheel is a free random name picker that works right in your browser — no downloads, no sign-up. Here's everything you need to know to get the most out of it.
Try it now →Step-by-step guide
Add your entries
Type names one at a time in the Entries panel or switch to Bulk Edit to paste an entire list — one name per line. The wheel updates live as you type.
Spin the wheel
Click the big violet SPIN button below the wheel, or click/tap the wheel itself. The wheel spins with a smooth animation and gradually decelerates to a stop.
See the winner
The segment under the violet pointer is the winner. A popup announces the result with a confetti celebration. You can spin again or remove the winner and continue.
Manage your list
Use the Shuffle button to randomize order, Sort A–Z to alphabetize, or remove individual entries with the ✕ button. Switch to the Results tab to see your spin history.
Customize options
Click the gear icon to open Options. Enable Auto-Remove to automatically eliminate winners, toggle sound effects, choose spin speed (Slow / Normal / Fast), and control confetti.
Share your wheel
Click the Share button to copy a URL that encodes your wheel title and all entries. Anyone who opens the link will see your wheel ready to spin — no account needed.
Put the wheel on your own site
One script tag places a working wheel on any page that lets you paste HTML — a class site, a WordPress post, Google Sites, or an LMS page in Canvas, Moodle or Blackboard. No account and no build step.
- 1Build the wheel you want here, then click Share and copy the link.
- 2Take the part after ?shared= — that is your share code.
- 3Paste the snippet below where you want the wheel, with your code in data-wheel.
<script src="https://thenamewheel.com/embed.js"
data-wheel="YOUR_SHARE_CODE"
data-palette="forest"
data-rim="bold"
data-height="520"></script>data-wheelRequired. The share code that carries your entries.
data-paletteclassic, pastel, corporate, sunset, forest or slate.
data-rimclassic, bold or none — the border drawn round the wheel.
data-heightFrame height in pixels. Defaults to 520.
The embedded wheel is read-only. It takes its entries from the share code and has no editing controls, so a student cannot add themselves to the list. Your entries still never reach a server — they travel inside the code itself.
The frame posts thenamewheel:spin, thenamewheel:winner and thenamewheel:resize messages to the page around it, so you can react when a name comes up. Always check event.origin before acting on one — a page that trusts any message it receives can be driven by any other frame on it.
What winning looks like
When the wheel stops, this is the announcement your audience sees. Confetti can be turned off in Options if you would rather it did not fire — useful for repeated classroom use.
Tips & tricks
Use Bulk Edit for large lists
Paste a spreadsheet column or a newline-separated list straight into the Bulk Edit tab. It's the fastest way to load dozens of names.
Explore the Gallery
Not sure what to spin? Browse the Gallery for ready-made wheels covering days of the week, dice, movie genres, trivia topics, and more.
Enable Auto-Remove for raffles
Turn on Auto-Remove in Options so each winner is automatically dropped from the list. Perfect for running fair prize draws without repeats.
Try different spin speeds
Slow mode (8 s) builds suspense in live events; Fast mode (4 s) keeps things snappy in the classroom. Change it any time in Options.
Shuffle before you spin
The order of entries doesn't affect randomness, but shuffling before a big event adds a nice theatrical touch when the audience can see the list.
Bookmark your shared link
After clicking Share, bookmark the copied URL. Next time you visit, your wheel will be pre-loaded — no re-entry required.