Free Secret Santa name generator
Draw names for your Secret Santa online, for free. Everyone sees only the name they drew, couples can't draw each other, and nobody has to be in the same room. It works for families, offices and groups of friends.
How the draw works
- Start a groupGive it a name. You're the organizer.
- Invite everyoneType their email addresses, or add the whole list at once from a photo, a screenshot of another gift exchange site, or a spreadsheet. Each person joins by pressing the link in their invitation.
- Set who can't draw whomPick two people and add a rule, like spouses or roommates. Each rule works one way, so add both directions for a couple.
- Open the drawOne press assigns every name at once, at random, following your rules. Nobody draws themselves.
- Everyone sees their own nameEach person opens the site and reveals only the name they drew. Nobody else's is shown, not even to the organizer.
Better than names in a hat
- Nobody draws themselves, so there's no awkward redraw.
- Couples stay apart without anyone having to fish their own name back out.
- People don't need to be together. Family across three states can draw on the same night.
- Late arrivals fit in. Someone who joins after the draw can be added by swapping with a person who hasn't looked at their name yet, so nobody notices a change.
- Not everyone has to draw. People coming only for the party stay in the group for the food and the chat.
Then everyone knows what to buy
Everyone posts a wish list with links from any store, so the person who drew them has something to go on. You can ask a question about a wish, like a size or a color, without the person knowing who asked. Kids get wish lists too, posted by a parent, and grown-ups press "I've got this" on what they'll buy so nobody doubles up.
Planning a party too? Guests can sign up to bring a dish in the same group. See the Christmas potluck sign-up.
Questions people ask
Is it free?
Yes. If you buy a gift through one of our store links, the store may pay us a small commission. It costs you nothing extra.
Does everyone need an account?
Each grown-up joins by pressing the link in their invitation and choosing a password, or signing in with Google. Kids don't need an account; a parent adds them.
Can the organizer see who drew whom?
Not by default. If something goes wrong, the organizer can unlock the list to fix it, and every unlock is recorded with their name and the time.
What if we need to draw again?
The organizer can reset the draw, and everyone picks again.
How many people can be in one group?
Plenty. An office of a hundred can go in from one spreadsheet.