Secret Santa Generator

Draw Secret Santa names online in seconds. Add exclusions for couples, set a budget and let each person reveal their match in private. Free, no signup.

How this Secret Santa generator works

Add everyone's name, one per line, and press Draw names. The tool shuffles the list in your browser and gives every participant exactly one person to gift, so nobody draws themselves and everyone receives exactly one gift. Nothing is sent to a server and nothing is saved: close the tab and the draw is gone.

Exclusions and direct swaps

Use the exclusion box for people who should not draw each other, such as couples or housemates who already shop together. Write them as Ann - Luke, one pair per line. The option avoid direct swaps prevents the case where A gifts B and B gifts A, which keeps the surprise. If your rules make a draw impossible, the tool tells you and you can relax one of them.

Keeping the draw secret

  • Hand the phone to each person and let them tap Reveal my match, then Hide before passing it on.
  • If you organize remotely, use Copy messages and send each person only their own line in a private chat.
  • As the organizer you can use Show all, but you will know every match.

Secret Santa rules that keep it fun

  • Set a budget everybody can afford; a common range is 15 to 30 dollars.
  • Pick a date for the exchange and a deadline for wish lists.
  • Ask for a short wish list or three ideas per person so gifts are useful.
  • Keep it secret until the exchange and reveal who gifted whom afterwards.

How to use the secret santa generator

  1. Type or paste the participants, one name per line.
  2. Optionally add exclusions such as couples, and a budget or event date.
  3. Press Draw names, then let each person reveal their match or copy the individual messages.

Frequently asked questions

How do I organize a Secret Santa online?

Paste the names of all participants, add any exclusions and a budget, and draw. Then send each person only their own result, either by letting them reveal it on your screen or by copying the individual messages.

Can I stop couples from drawing each other?

Yes. Add one pair per line in the exclusions box, for example Ann - Luke. Those two will never be matched in either direction.

What is the minimum number of people for Secret Santa?

You need at least 3 participants. With only two people each would simply gift the other, so there is no real draw, and the tool cannot avoid direct swaps.

Is the draw really random?

Yes. The order is shuffled in your browser with the cryptographic random generator, and any combination that breaks your rules is discarded before showing the result.

Do you store the names I enter?

No. Everything runs in your browser. The names are not sent to any server and disappear when you close or reload the page.

What if someone cannot attend?

Remove their name and draw again. Because the result changes completely, send the new messages to everyone.

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