Two names per line, like Anna + Ben — for couples or people who live together.
About the Secret Santa generator
Secret Santa (also called Kris Kringle or a gift exchange) is simple: everybody buys one present for one person, and nobody knows who is buying for them. The hard part is the draw. Names in a hat do not work when people are in different places, and the organiser always ends up knowing every match.
This generator does the draw in your browser and gives each person a private link. When Anna opens her link, she sees *only* who she is buying for — with the budget, the date and your message. Nobody else's match is shown anywhere, not even to you, so the organiser can take part too.
There is no sign-up, nobody's email address is needed, and no names are uploaded.
How to use it
- Type a name for the exchange, and add a budget and date if you like
- Type everyone taking part, one name per line — at least 3 people
- Optional: add people who should never draw each other, like Anna + Ben
- Press Draw names
- Send each person their own link — copy it into WhatsApp, a text, an email or a chat, or press Share on a phone
- Each person opens their link and presses Reveal who I buy for
Couples and other rules
Put two names on one line in Never draw each other — Anna + Ben — and Anna will not draw Ben, and Ben will not draw Anna. That is the usual rule for couples, flatmates or a parent and child.
A line can also hold more names: Anna + Ben + Chloé keeps all three apart (handy for a family inside a bigger group).
If the rules leave no possible draw — for example 4 people where everybody is in a couple with two others — the tool says so, and you can remove a rule or add someone.
How the private links work
After the draw, each match is packed into the end of that person's link, after the # sign. That part of a link is never sent to any server: it stays in the browser that opens it. So the matches exist only inside the links you send.
The match is scrambled, not shown as plain text, so you do not see it by accident when you copy a link. Send each person only their own link — whoever has a link can open it.
Your list and the links are remembered on this device only, so you can come back later and send a link again.
Ideas for your exchange
- Office Secret Santa — set a small budget, like $15 or $20, so it is fair for everyone
- Family Christmas — use "never draw each other" for couples and for parents with their children
- Friends far away — add the address deadline to the message so gifts arrive in time
- White Elephant / Yankee Swap — no draw is needed; for that game use Spin the Wheel to pick who goes first
- Print name labels for the presents with Printable Gift Tags
Frequently asked questions
How does an online Secret Santa draw work?
You type everyone's name and press Draw names. The tool makes a random match where nobody draws themselves, then gives you one private link per person. Each person opens their link to see who they buy for.
Can the organiser see who has who?
No. The matches are never shown on the organiser's screen — each one is hidden inside its own link. That is why the organiser can take part like everyone else.
How do I stop couples from drawing each other?
Write the two names on one line under "Never draw each other", like "Anna + Ben". They will never be matched with each other, in either direction.
Do people need an email address or an account?
No. You share the links any way you like — a group chat, a text message or an email. Nobody signs up.
Someone lost their link. What now?
Open this page again on the same device: your last draw is still there, so you can copy that person's link again. You can also save all links as a text file.
Is my list uploaded?
No. The draw happens in your browser and the names stay on your device.
Good to know
- A draw needs at least 3 people
- If you press Draw names again, everyone gets a new match — send everybody their new link
- Names typed twice are only counted once
- The person who opens a link sees the page in the same language as the organiser's page
Related tools
- Printable Gift Tags — "To / From" tags for the presents
- Christmas Countdown — how many days until Christmas
- Advent Calendar Maker — 24 days of activities to print
- Spin the Wheel — pick a random name
- Team Generator — split people into random groups
- Name Tag & Table Card Maker — name badges for the party
