How to Use the Wheel
TheNameWheel is a free random name picker that works right in your browser — no downloads, no sign-up. Here's everything you need to know to get the most out of it.
Try it now →Step-by-step guide
Add your entries
Type names one at a time in the Entries panel or switch to Bulk Edit to paste an entire list — one name per line. The wheel updates live as you type.
Spin the wheel
Click the big violet SPIN button below the wheel, or click/tap the wheel itself. The wheel spins with a smooth animation and gradually decelerates to a stop.
See the winner
The segment under the violet pointer is the winner. A popup announces the result with a confetti celebration. You can spin again or remove the winner and continue.
Manage your list
Use the Shuffle button to randomize order, Sort A–Z to alphabetize, or remove individual entries with the ✕ button. Switch to the Results tab to see your spin history.
Customize options
Click the gear icon to open Options. Enable Auto-Remove to automatically eliminate winners, toggle sound effects, choose spin speed (Slow / Normal / Fast), and control confetti.
Share your wheel
Click the Share button to copy a URL that encodes your wheel title and all entries. Anyone who opens the link will see your wheel ready to spin — no account needed.
Want more than one wheel?
Two features people rarely find on their own. Try Linked Wheels to chain spinners together so one result feeds the next, or save a class list in Your Classes for one-click reloading next lesson.
Put the full wheel app on your own site
The iframe embed gives visitors the complete wheel workspace directly on your page: they can add text or images, change options, spin, and review results. It works in a WordPress custom HTML block, Google Sites, or an LMS page that accepts iframe code.
- 1Build the starting wheel you want, then click Embed above the wheel.
- 2Copy the generated iframe code from the live preview dialog.
- 3Paste it into your site’s HTML or embed block and publish the page.
<iframe
src="https://thenamewheel.com/embed/app/?shared=YOUR_SHARE_CODE"
title="Interactive spinner wheel by TheNameWheel"
width="100%"
height="900"
style="width:100%;max-width:1200px;border:0;border-radius:16px;"
sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-forms allow-downloads allow-modals allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox"
allow="autoplay; fullscreen; clipboard-write"
allowfullscreen>
</iframe>width="100%"Makes the editor adapt to the available width on the host page.
height="900"Recommended starting height; increase it for narrow page columns.
sandboxAllows editor features while keeping the iframe isolated from the host page.
allowEnables sound, full-screen mode, and the Copy buttons inside the editor.
The full embed is interactive. Visitor edits and results stay in that visitor’s browser, and each published wheel receives its own local storage space. The starting entries still travel inside the iframe URL rather than being uploaded to a server.
Need a locked wheel with only a Spin button? The existing /embed/ endpoint and embed loader remain available as the compact read-only option.
The frame posts thenamewheel:spin, thenamewheel:winner and thenamewheel:resize messages to the page around it, so you can react when a name comes up. Always check event.origin before acting on one — a page that trusts any message it receives can be driven by any other frame on it.
What winning looks like
When the wheel stops, this is the announcement your audience sees. Confetti can be turned off in Options if you would rather it did not fire — useful for repeated classroom use.
Tips & tricks
Use Bulk Edit for large lists
Paste a spreadsheet column or a newline-separated list straight into the Bulk Edit tab. It's the fastest way to load dozens of names.
Explore the Gallery
Not sure what to spin? Browse the Gallery for ready-made wheels covering days of the week, dice, movie genres, trivia topics, and more.
Enable Auto-Remove for raffles
Turn on Auto-Remove in Options so each winner is automatically dropped from the list. Perfect for running fair prize draws without repeats.
Try different spin speeds
Slow mode (8 s) builds suspense in live events; Fast mode (4 s) keeps things snappy in the classroom. Change it any time in Options.
Shuffle before you spin
The order of entries doesn't affect randomness, but shuffling before a big event adds a nice theatrical touch when the audience can see the list.
Bookmark your shared link
After clicking Share, bookmark the copied URL. Next time you visit, your wheel will be pre-loaded — no re-entry required.