How do I draw names for a Christmas gift exchange?

Enter a different name or number for each participant, one per line or separated by commas. Add any forbidden pairs, select Draw assignments, then let each person reveal and hide their recipient before passing the device. The same process works for family, friends and office exchanges.

Can two people draw the same recipient?

No. Every participant receives exactly one gift, and nobody draws their own name.

Can I exclude couples or other pairs?

Yes. Enter one forbidden pair per line, such as Alex, Bailey. A comma, arrow or colon can separate the two names. Either person is prevented from drawing the other; spelling must match a participant, ignoring letter case and extra spaces.

What happens if the rules are impossible?

The page shows an error and no assignment cards. Change the exclusions or add more participants, then draw again. Malformed pairs, unknown names and duplicate participants also show a specific error.

Can I run Secret Santa without email addresses or invitations?

Yes. Names are enough, with no registration, email addresses, invitations or private links. Cards are hidden until selected, but anyone holding the device can open them. For a remote group, the organizer must deliver each assignment separately; this page does not send email, texts or WhatsApp messages.

Can I save a master list of assignments?

Export project downloads a JSON file containing the whole draw. Keep it private because every assignment is readable in the file. The page does not import projects; reloading or resetting clears the current draw.

Does it work on a phone or offline?

Use a current browser on iPhone, Android, a tablet or a computer, with nothing to install. Once the page has loaded, drawing and revealing names needs no internet connection. Participant names and assignments stay in this browser.

Secret Santa Generator

Draw Secret Santa names for three to one hundred people, with no email addresses or accounts. Add forbidden pairs to keep couples from drawing each other, then pass the device to reveal one recipient at a time. Each person gives and receives one gift.

Participants

Use a different name for each person, one per line or separated by commas. Numbers can also identify participants.

Forbidden pairs one pair per line, such as Alex, Bailey

The export contains every assignment. Save it privately; this page does not import saved projects or send emails, texts or private links.

Add names and optional exclusions, then draw when the group is ready.

Common questions

How do I draw names for a Christmas gift exchange?: Enter a different name or number for each participant, one per line or separated by commas. Add any forbidden pairs, select Draw assignments, then let each person reveal and hide their recipient before passing the device. The same process works for family, friends and office exchanges.
Can two people draw the same recipient?: No. Every participant receives exactly one gift, and nobody draws their own name.
Can I exclude couples or other pairs?: Yes. Enter one forbidden pair per line, such as Alex, Bailey. A comma, arrow or colon can separate the two names. Either person is prevented from drawing the other; spelling must match a participant, ignoring letter case and extra spaces.
What happens if the rules are impossible?: The page shows an error and no assignment cards. Change the exclusions or add more participants, then draw again. Malformed pairs, unknown names and duplicate participants also show a specific error.
Can I run Secret Santa without email addresses or invitations?: Yes. Names are enough, with no registration, email addresses, invitations or private links. Cards are hidden until selected, but anyone holding the device can open them. For a remote group, the organizer must deliver each assignment separately; this page does not send email, texts or WhatsApp messages.
Can I save a master list of assignments?: Export project downloads a JSON file containing the whole draw. Keep it private because every assignment is readable in the file. The page does not import projects; reloading or resetting clears the current draw.
Does it work on a phone or offline?: Use a current browser on iPhone, Android, a tablet or a computer, with nothing to install. Once the page has loaded, drawing and revealing names needs no internet connection. Participant names and assignments stay in this browser.

A feasible draw assigns each participant one different recipient and respects every valid forbidden pair. Random draws are not uniformly sampled across all valid matchings; the page does not verify identities or restrict who can reveal cards.