How to use it
- Type or paste the names in the box, one per line.
- Choose Number of teams (for example 4 teams) or People per team (for example groups of 3), and enter the number.
- Press Make teams. Don’t like the mix? Press Shuffle again.
- Click a team’s name to rename it, or press Random team names. Then use Copy as text to paste the teams into a chat, email or document.
Fair teams without the awkward part
Picking teams by hand is slow, and the old “two captains choose” method leaves the same people waiting until last. A random team generator skips all of that: paste the list, pick a number and everyone gets a team in a second, with no favorites and no one left out. Because the result is random and visible, it’s easy to accept, whether the team is for a school project, a five-a-side match or a board game night.
For teachers
Random groups are a simple way to mix a class so students work with people outside their usual circle. Some ideas:
- Project groups. Choose “people per team” and set it to 3 or 4. If the class doesn’t divide evenly, the tool makes a few groups one person smaller instead of leaving one student alone.
- Quick pairs. Set people per team to 2 for think-pair-share, peer review or lab partners. With an odd number, one group of three is created automatically.
- Stations and rotations. Set the number of teams to match your stations, then copy the list and paste it into your slides.
- Reuse your roster. If you already have the class in the name wheel, use the “Use this list in” link to bring it over without retyping.
For sports, games and events
For pickup football, basketball or volleyball, choose the number of teams and shuffle until the teams feel right. It’s still random, and everyone saw it happen. For trivia nights and board games, the random team names are a fun touch: press the button and your groups become the Rocket Llamas and the Night Owls. For work events, the team names are editable, so you can use departments, colors or table numbers instead.
How the shuffle works
Balanced and random are two separate jobs, and the generator does both. First, the whole list is shuffled with the Fisher–Yates method, using your browser’s cryptographically secure random generator (crypto.getRandomValues) instead of the weaker Math.random(). Then the names are dealt round-robin into the teams, so sizes never differ by more than one. Finally, the order of the teams is shuffled too, so the bigger groups aren’t always the first ones. Automated tests check that every person lands in every team about equally often.
Handy details
- Duplicate names are kept, because two students can share a name. Add an initial (“Ana M.”, “Ana R.”) to tell them apart.
- Up to 1,000 names are supported, and the results work on any phone.
- Copy as text gives you a clean list, with each team name followed by its members, ready to paste anywhere.
Frequently asked questions
How does the generator keep the teams balanced?
It shuffles the list and then deals the names out one by one, like cards, so team sizes never differ by more than one person. With 10 people and 3 teams you get 4, 3 and 3, never 4, 4 and 2. Which team gets the extra person is random too.
What’s the difference between “number of teams” and “people per team”?
With number of teams, you decide how many groups you want and the size follows. With people per team, you decide the group size and the number of teams follows. If the people don’t divide evenly, some teams end up one person smaller instead of leaving someone alone.
Is it really random?
Yes. The shuffle uses your browser’s cryptographic random number generator and the Fisher–Yates method, which gives every possible arrangement the same chance. We test that each person ends up in each team equally often.
Can I keep certain people together or apart?
Not automatically. The generator treats everyone the same, which is what makes it fair. If you need a specific pairing, make the teams and then edit the copied text, or press Shuffle again until you’re happy with the mix.
Are the names I paste saved anywhere?
Only in your own browser, so the last list is there when you come back. Nothing is uploaded, and you can clear the box at any time.