Selector or generator: compare the job first
A teacher asking who reads next already has the possible answers: the students present. A writer naming a fictional explorer wants suggestions. Both tasks involve chance, but only the first is a draw among eligible people.
Here, picker and selector mean the same thing. Generator means a tool that supplies naming ideas. Check whether it asks for candidates or naming preferences.
| Dimension | Random name selector / picker | Name generator |
|---|---|---|
| Input | Your list of eligible entries | Rules or preferences, such as style or length |
| Output | One or more entries from that list | Name suggestions you did not supply as candidates |
| Meaning of “random” | Chance determines which eligible entry is selected | Variation determines which suggestions appear |
| Typical uses | Classroom turns, game participants, informal winner draws | Fictional characters, placeholder names, creative brainstorming |
| Fairness question | Does each eligible entry have the intended chance? | Do suggestions fit the requested style? Equal participant odds are not the task. |
| Privacy question | Where does the real roster go, and who can see it? | What prompt details are sent or retained? Avoid unnecessary personal data. |
| Typical misuse | Expecting new names when no candidate list exists | Treating an invented name as a winner from a real roster |
Six checks to choose the right tool
- Already have the people who can be chosen? Use a selector and enter only those eligible people.
- Need names for a story, game world, or mockup? Use a generator with suitable naming criteria.
- Need everyone to take one turn before someone returns? Use a selector with a no-repeat round and one entry per person.
- Need several recipients from the same roster? Use a selector that supports batch draws, then check its repeat rules.
- Have a shortlist of names you invented earlier? A selector can choose among them; it does not create additional suggestions.
- Expect a generated suggestion to identify an actual attendee? Stop and use the attendee list. A plausible name is not evidence of eligibility.
If you need a generator: review the suggestions
Choose by the controls your task needs: pronunciation, length, language, or fictional setting. Read each suggestion aloud and check that it fits the character or project. A convincing spelling does not establish a name’s meaning or cultural suitability, so verify those details when they matter.
A generated name may coincide with a real person or brand. Do not assume “generated” means unique or available for public use. For mockups, label people as fictional and avoid combining invented names with real personal details.
A generator is not suitable for drawing a winner or calling on a student: its output may not belong to anyone on your roster. WheelMigo does not generate names. Its samples and templates are prepared lists; the name picker selects an entry from the list you supply or choose.
If you need a selector: prepare the eligible list
Open the name picker through Try the tool. In WheelMigo, choose Replace list and paste one name per line, or import a CSV file. For CSV, check Name column and First row is a header in the preview. Templates offer a starting list, including Classroom names; replace sample people before an actual draw.
Review the duplicate count before confirming the new activity. WheelMigo keeps matching labels. Decide whether they represent accidental copies, two different people with the same name, or intentionally separate chances. For one chance per person, remove accidental copies yourself. Distinguish namesakes with a minimal identifier such as “Alex R.” and “Alex S.”
For the next draw, a person represented by k of N eligible entries has probability k/N. In this illustrative list — Alex, Alex, Bea, Chen, Dev — Alex has 2/5 = 40%, while each other person has 1/5 = 20%. Removing the accidental Alex copy leaves four entries, each with 1/4 = 25%. Count eligible entries, not distinct spellings.
Choose repeat rules that match the activity
Enable No repeats this round when each person should take a turn before anyone returns, after checking that each person has one entry. WheelMigo excludes selected entry IDs for the rest of that round. With two Alex entries, selecting one leaves the other available. Starting a new round makes previously selected entries eligible again.
Batch draws accept 1–100 results, limited by the eligible entries remaining. Each batch selects distinct entries even with repeats enabled; separate batches can reuse entries unless no-repeat mode is on. Two entries sharing a name can therefore appear in the same batch. Use one entry per person when you need distinct people.
Make the draw understandable to participants
Share the eligible list with participants before drawing, using agreed display names when privacy matters. Explain duplicate entries, repeat settings, and which draw counts. Review the full roster in Attendance & names, then use Present mode for a clearer view of the wheel. Announce the result and avoid unannounced rerolls.
WheelMigo uses crypto.getRandomValues with rejection sampling to give eligible entries equal odds. That mechanism cannot correct an incomplete roster or accidental duplicates. For the selection details, see “How WheelMigo actually picks a name” in Keep reading. Keep the rules visible alongside the results so observers know what was selected and why it counted.
Afterward, use Results → Export CSV to keep the draw record. It includes order, label, round, mode, and local-device ISO time. Keep your eligibility rules separately: a results file alone does not document how the original list was assembled.
Keep roster privacy separate from naming privacy
WheelMigo saves rosters and activities in this browser’s IndexedDB. Check the save status and export a JSON backup when you need a file copy. Clearing browser data can remove local records; saving here should not be treated as a transfer to another browser or device.
Local roster storage is not a claim that the entire website makes no network requests: the site includes advertising and analytics integrations. Use only the identifiers participants need, protect shared-device access, and handle exported files carefully. For a generator, inspect its prompt and retention policy before entering personal information; invented output does not make sensitive input harmless.