Draw Names
Draw names online for free in a few minutes. Add your participants, set a budget and let our name drawing generator match everyone at random. 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
All you need is everyone's name and email address.
Draw names
We draw the names at random and give everyone one person to buy for.
Everyone is notified
Each participant gets an email saying who they're buying for. Participants don't see anyone else's pick.
Great for
Learn more about drawing names online
What is drawing names?
Drawing names is a classic gift exchange where everyone in a group is matched at random with one person to buy a gift for. Instead of buying for everyone, you buy one good gift for the person whose name you drew. With Happy Giftlist you draw names online, so you don't need a hat or scraps of paper, and it works just as well for groups that never 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). Then start the draw. The name picker pairs everyone up at random and emails each person their match privately. Participants only see who they drew themselves.
Drawing names works for any group
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, so whoever drew them knows what they'd like. Set a budget that works for everyone. Friends and colleagues usually keep it to the price of a good book or a bottle of wine; families often go a little higher. The draw itself can't be redone, but if someone drops out you can replace them on the settings page by changing that participant's name and email.
What it looks like
Here's what a gift draw looks like for your group.
You drew:
Emma
Box of Chocolates
35 $
Bottle of Wine
25 $
Cashmere Scarf
45 $
Gift exchange ideas for any name you draw
Gift ideas for when you draw names with family, friends or colleagues, all within a small budget.
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
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Adaugo Rhinestone Cat Keyring & Bag Charm
Sparkly glass crystal cat keyring & bag charm in gold, purple or multicolour. A dazzling gift for her.
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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)
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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
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Door County Coffee Gourmet Flavored Sampler Pack
Door County Coffee Gourmet Flavored Sampler Pack, Ten 1.5 oz Bags
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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
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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
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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)
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Der Rose 6 Pack Succulents Fake Plants
Der Rose 6 Pack Succulents Fake Plants for Bedroom Bathroom Home Decor
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Unboxme Gifts Ultra-Luxe Cloud Socks
Unboxme Gifts Ultra-Luxe Cloud Socks for Women and Men - Warm, Super Soft, Cozy Everyday Sleep Socks
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CRAVEBOX Gourmet Value Snack Box
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View productMore on Happy Giftlist
A free draw names generator built for any group
Happy Giftlist works as a free draw names generator. The name drawing generator runs the whole name draw online, so nobody needs a hat or paper slips. Use it for a family draw at Christmas, to draw names Secret Santa style at the office, or for a birthday or any other name draw you want to run. Add the group, set your rules and start the draw. Everyone gets a private email with their match, and as the organiser you can keep track of it all without spoiling 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. Then click 'Done'. Happy Giftlist matches everyone automatically and emails each person their result. The whole thing takes a few minutes.
It's the digital version of drawing names from a hat. Everyone is given one person at random to buy a gift for, and Happy Giftlist emails each of them their result.
Yes, it's completely free to draw names here, 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 makes sure those pairs aren't matched.
Yes. Each participant can link a wishlist to their name, so whoever drew them knows what to buy.
Practical things or small luxuries work best, the kind of thing you'd enjoy but wouldn't normally buy yourself. A wishlist linked to your name helps whoever drew you pick something you'll actually use. Think of hobbies, favourite foods or something 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 the person they're buying for. The other participants don't see it.
Participants can't; each one only sees their own result, which they get by email. As the organiser, you can look up who a participant drew with 'View name' on the settings page.
The draw can't be redone, but you can replace the person who dropped out. On the settings page, change that participant's name and email to the new person's. The new person gets the invitation, and whoever drew the old participant now buys for the new one.
Yes, there's no upper limit on participants. You can draw names for a small family just as easily as for a large office or classroom.