How to draw names for Secret Santa
- Type one name per line (3 to 100 people).
- Add pairs who should not draw each other, like couples or roommates, one pair per line: Anna, Ben.
- Add the budget, the exchange date and a short message if you like.
- Press Draw names. Nobody draws themselves, and excluded pairs never meet.
- Send each person their link with Copy link, Share or Email. They open it and tap to see their person.
All together in one room? Press Pass the phone: each person taps their name, sees their result, hides it and passes the phone on.
How the links keep it secret
Each link holds one result: who that person gives to, plus your budget, date and message. The result is scrambled inside the link, so you cannot read it by looking at the address, and it sits after the # sign, which browsers never send to a server. Nothing is stored on our side and nobody needs an account.
Honest note for organizers who also take part: you could open other people's links, and Show all pairs reveals the whole draw. Leave both alone and your own gift stays a surprise too. The draw is saved in your browser, so you can resend a lost link later.
Ideas for your gift exchange
- Set a clear budget so nobody overspends or feels awkward.
- Pick a theme: something handmade, a book, something under the budget from a local shop, or a favorite snack.
- Ask for a wish: use the message box to invite everyone to share one gift idea with the group.
- Office and class exchanges: exclude people who sit together, and pick a date when everyone is in.
- Remote teams and families far apart: the links work on any device, so everyone can draw from home and ship the gift.
Wrapping up? Print free Christmas gift tags from our sister site rainypad.
Questions
Is this Secret Santa generator free?
Yes, with no sign-up, no email addresses and no limits. Everything runs in your browser.
How does each person find out who they got?
You send each person their own link. When they open it they see a card with their name, tap Reveal, and see who they are buying for, plus the budget, date and message. They never see anyone else's result.
Can I stop couples from drawing each other?
Yes. Type each pair on its own line in the exclusions box, like Anna, Ben. You can also list a group of three or more on one line, and none of them will draw each other.
Can the organizer see who got who?
Only if they choose to. The draw is hidden until you press Show all pairs, and each link keeps its result scrambled. If the organizer takes part, they should not open other people's links.
Someone lost their link. What now?
Open this page again in the same browser you used for the draw. The draw is still there, so you can copy that person's link again. Drawing again makes a new draw, so the old links would no longer match.
What is the smallest group?
3 people. With 2 people each would simply draw the other, so there would be no secret.
What does One circle mean?
Everyone is linked in a single chain: Anna gives to Ben, Ben to Chris, and so on until the last person gives to Anna. It means no two people simply swap gifts with each other.