Draw Names
Draw names online — free and ready in minutes. Add your participants, set a budget, and let our name drawing tool randomly match everyone. We'll email each person their result.
- 100% free for everyone
- Add all participants in seconds
- Everyone gets notified by email
- Set a budget for the exchange
How it works
Add participants
Enter everyone's name and email address — that's all you need.
Draw names
We draw the names and pair everyone up — totally random, no awkward moments.
Everyone is notified
Each participant gets an email with who they have to buy for. Nobody sees anyone else's pick.
Great for
Learn more about drawing names online
What is drawing names?
Drawing names is a classic gift exchange game where everyone in a group is randomly matched with one person to buy a gift for. Instead of buying for everyone, you buy one thoughtful gift — for the person whose name you drew. With Happy Giftlist, the whole name drawing process happens online: no more scraps of paper, no hat, and no headaches for groups that don't meet up in person.
How does drawing names online work?
Add each participant by name and email, set a budget, and exclude any pairs that shouldn't be matched (couples or siblings who already buy for each other, for example). Hit send — Happy Giftlist runs the name picker, pairs everyone up automatically, and emails each person their match privately. Nobody can see anyone else's result, so the secret stays a secret.
Who is a name drawing for?
Drawing names works for any group, from a family of five to an office of a hundred. It's a Christmas classic, but it's just as useful for classrooms, sports clubs, or friend groups who want to surprise each other without buying for everyone. Three is the minimum, and there's no upper limit on participants.
How to make your gift exchange even better
Ask every participant to attach a wishlist to their name — that way, whoever drew them knows exactly what they'd love. Set a budget that feels comfortable for everyone (£20 to £30 is typical among friends and colleagues; families often go higher, around £50). Need to remove someone or redo the draw? You can adjust the group and run a fresh draw at any time from the settings page.
What it looks like
Here's what a gift draw looks like for your group.
You drew:
Emma
Chocolate Box
35 €
Wine Bottle
25 €
Cashmere Scarf
45 €
Gift exchange ideas for any name you draw
Gift exchange ideas everyone enjoys. Browse fun and affordable gifts for your family, friends or coworkers. Find the perfect draw names gift for any personality and situation.
Pixlora Puzzles for Adults 1000 Pieces
Pixlora Puzzles for Adults 1000 Pieces, 2 Pack Unique 1000 Piece Lake and Night View Jigsaw Puzzles, Premium Scenic Landscape Puzzles & Nature Theme for Challenging Game Night
amazon.com
View product
YHYZ Split Key Ring Circle Assorted
YHYZ Split Key Ring Circle Assorted, Metal Keyring Durable in 5 Sizes (Small 1/2 inch, 3/4 inch,1 inch, 1.25 inch, Large 1.38 inch), for Dog Pet Collar DIY Tag Jewelry Car Key (Sliver, Alloy Steel)
amazon.com
View product
360° Rotating Stainless Steel Phone Tether Tab
360° Rotating Stainless Steel Phone Tether Tab (Silvery 3-Pack) - Universal for iPhone & Other Phones (Fits Wristbands/Necklaces/Crossbody Straps)
amazon.com
View product
LifeAround2Angels Bath Bombs Gift Set 12 USA made Fizzies
LifeAround2Angels Bath Bombs Gift Set 12 USA made Fizzies, Shea & Coco Butter Dry Skin Moisturize, Perfect for Bubble Spa Bath. Handmade Birthday Mothers day Gifts idea For Her/Him, wife, girlfriend
amazon.com
View product
Door County Coffee Gourmet Flavored Sampler Pack
Door County Coffee Gourmet Flavored Sampler Pack, Ten 1.5 oz Bags
amazon.com
View product
Bath & Body Works Mahogany Teakwood Intense 3-Wick Candle
Bath & Body Works Mahogany Teakwood Intense 3-Wick Candle - Scented Candle for At-Home Use - Long-Lasting, Room-Filling Fragrance - High Fragrance Oil Concentration - Soy Wax Blend
amazon.com
View product
USAOPOLY Flip 7, The Ultimate Blend of Press Your Luck &…
USAOPOLY Flip 7, The Ultimate Blend of Press Your Luck & Strategy, Fast-Paced Addictive Card Game,Quick to Learn & Easy to Teach,Perfect for Game Nights, 3+ Players, Ages 8 & Up, 20 Minutes Play Time
amazon.com
View product
Oxford Spiral Notebook 6 Pack
Oxford Spiral Notebook 6 Pack, 1 Subject, College Ruled Paper, 8 x 10-1/2 Inch, Color Assortment Design May Vary (65007)
amazon.com
View product
Der Rose 6 Pack Succulents Fake Plants
Der Rose 6 Pack Succulents Fake Plants for Bedroom Bathroom Home Decor
amazon.com
View product
Unboxme Gifts Ultra-Luxe Cloud Socks
Unboxme Gifts Ultra-Luxe Cloud Socks for Women and Men - Warm, Super Soft, Cozy Everyday Sleep Socks
amazon.com
View product
CRAVEBOX Gourmet Value Snack Box
CRAVEBOX Gourmet Value Snack Box (Variety Pack) Summer Care Package Specialty Private Label Healthy Variety
amazon.com
View productMore on Happy Giftlist
A free draw names generator built for any group
If you've searched for a draw names generator, name draw online or random name picker for gifts, Happy Giftlist is the simplest option around. It handles draw names for Christmas, draw names secret santa style, draw names for birthdays — any kind of name draw you'd want to run. Add the group, set the rules, click draw. Everyone gets a private email with their match and you keep the overview without ruining anyone's surprise.
Frequently asked questions about drawing names
Add each participant by name and email, set a budget, and exclude any pairs if needed. Click 'Draw Names' — Happy Giftlist matches everyone automatically and emails each person their result. Done in just a few minutes.
It's the digital version of drawing names from a hat — everyone gets randomly assigned one person to buy a gift for. Happy Giftlist handles the draw and emails everyone with their result.
Yes, completely free. No subscription, no hidden costs, no ads — and there's no limit on the size of your group.
Yes, you set a suggested budget when creating the exchange. Everyone sees it, so there are no surprises about how much to spend.
Yes. If there are people who shouldn't draw each other — like couples or siblings who already buy for each other — you can exclude them. Happy Giftlist will make sure those pairs don't get matched.
Yes! Each participant can link a wishlist to their name. That way, whoever drew them knows exactly what to buy — no guessing needed.
Practical items or small luxuries work best — things you'd enjoy but wouldn't normally buy yourself. A wishlist linked to your participant profile helps your gift-giver choose something you'll actually love. Think hobbies, favourite foods, or things you've been meaning to try.
Absolutely. Vouchers, event tickets, or activity experiences make great exchange gifts. If a budget is set, just make sure it fits within it. Add it to your wishlist the same way you'd add any other gift.
After the draw, each person gets a personal email with the name of who they're buying for. It's private — nobody else sees anyone else's result.
No. Each participant only sees their own result. The organiser can see the full list of pairs, but participants only receive their own assignment by email.
You can redo the draw from the settings at any time. Remove the person who dropped out, adjust the group, and run a new draw — everyone gets a fresh email with their new assignment.
Yes, there's no upper limit on participants. Happy Giftlist handles groups of any size — from a small family to a large office or classroom.