How random is the split, really?

The names are shuffled with Fisher–Yates using cryptographic random numbers from your browser. Rejection sampling maps each random number to an index without modulo bias, so every arrangement has the same chance.

What happens when the names do not divide evenly?

The teams are made as equal as arithmetic allows, they never differ by more than one person, and the earlier teams take the extras. Eleven names into three teams gives 4, 4, 3, and the tool prints that split in the pane header and in a note under the teams, so an uneven result is stated rather than hidden. Asking for teams of four out of ten gives three teams of 4, 3, 3 rather than 4, 4, 2, because one team two people short is a worse answer than two teams one person short. Nobody is ever dropped.

What if the same name appears twice in my list?

Duplicates are kept by default, because two people really can share a first name, and both of them need a team. The Names readout counts how many entries were repeated so you can see it happened, and a Remove switch strips the repeats and keeps the first spelling. Two entries count as the same name when they match apart from capitalisation and extra spaces, so Ben, ben and BEN are one person typed three times.

How do I paste the teams into a message?

Copy teams puts every team on the clipboard as plain text, one team per paragraph: the team name on its own line, then one member per line. That pastes cleanly into Slack, WhatsApp, email or a document without turning into a table. Each team row also has its own Copy button for a single team. Nothing is uploaded to do this, the copy is made in your browser.

Can I name the teams something other than numbers?

Yes. Numbered gives Team 1, Team 2 and so on. Colours gives twelve named teams, Red through Lime, and past twelve it numbers round again as Red 2, Blue 2. Custom takes your own list, separated by commas or line breaks, and falls back to Team 4, Team 5 for any teams your list does not reach, so no team is left unnamed.

Is there a limit on how many names I can paste?

No limit is imposed. The whole tool runs in your browser with nothing uploaded and no account, so the practical ceiling is your device's memory rather than a plan. Names are separated by line breaks and by commas, which means a column copied out of a spreadsheet and a comma list typed by hand both work. Your list and settings are remembered in this browser only, so the same roster is there when you come back.

Can I make random pairs or classroom groups?

Yes. Choose Size of team and enter 2 for random partners, or another maximum size for classroom groups, golf groups or five-a-side players. An odd count leaves one group with a single person when pairing. The tool balances member counts; it does not balance skill levels or enforce keep-together rules.

Can I pick a random NBA, NFL or MLB team?

Yes. The separate league picker contains 30 NBA teams, 32 NFL teams and 30 MLB teams, with names checked on October 5, 2026. Select a league and press Pick team. Each pick is independent and may repeat. It chooses a team name, not a player roster, historical team or video-game lineup.

Can I use this with Excel, Google Sheets or my phone?

Paste a single name column from Excel or Google Sheets into Names, then use Copy teams to paste the result back. This page runs in a current browser on a phone, tablet or computer, including iPhone, Android, Windows and Mac. It does not supply a spreadsheet formula, native app or bot.

Can I pick a random basketball or baseball team?

Use NBA in the league picker for one of the fixed basketball team names, or MLB for one of the fixed baseball team names. These are the leagues included here; college, international and historical team lists are not supplied.

Can I pick a random hockey, football or sports team?

Use the league picker for one existing team: NHL for hockey, NFL for American football, NBA for basketball or MLB for baseball. The stated fixed name lists are dated October 5, 2026. These are team-name picks, without player rosters, historical teams or a league affiliation. Soccer and other named leagues are not supplied.

Random Team Generator

Paste names and divide them into random groups by team count or maximum team size. Uneven groups differ by at most one person, with the extra members identified. Use the league picker below to choose one NBA, NFL or MLB team.

Namesone per line, or commas

Teamswaiting for names

Teams appear here.

Nothing to split yet.

Fisher–Yates on crypto randomnessUneven splits stated, not hiddenNothing leaves your browserNo account, no list length limit

Split by

Teams

Names

0 · no repeats

Duplicates

Remove

Team names

Names are separated by line breaks and by commas, so a column pasted from a spreadsheet and a comma list both work. Shuffle again draws a fresh split, and so does changing the names or the number of teams. Renaming the teams leaves everyone where they are.

Pick a league team

Choose one team from a fixed NBA, NFL, MLB or NHL name list. Each team has the same chance; repeats are possible.

30 NBA teams

No team picked yet

Team names checked on October 5, 2026. No player rosters, historical teams or league affiliation.

Fair means every arrangement is equally likely. The shuffle is Fisher–Yates over crypto.getRandomValues, drawn without modulo bias, so no name is favoured by where it sat in your list. When the names do not divide evenly the earlier teams take the extra person, and the pane header, the note and the team rows all say so. Nobody is dropped. If you want one name out of a list rather than a whole split, the Random Name Picker is the tool for that.

Accuracy. Every arrangement is equally likely: the shuffle is Fisher–Yates on cryptographic random numbers. When names do not divide evenly the earlier teams take the extra person, and the header says which.

Common questions

How random is the split, really?: The names are shuffled with Fisher–Yates using cryptographic random numbers from your browser. Rejection sampling maps each random number to an index without modulo bias, so every arrangement has the same chance.
What happens when the names do not divide evenly?: The teams are made as equal as arithmetic allows, they never differ by more than one person, and the earlier teams take the extras. Eleven names into three teams gives 4, 4, 3, and the tool prints that split in the pane header and in a note under the teams, so an uneven result is stated rather than hidden. Asking for teams of four out of ten gives three teams of 4, 3, 3 rather than 4, 4, 2, because one team two people short is a worse answer than two teams one person short. Nobody is ever dropped.
What if the same name appears twice in my list?: Duplicates are kept by default, because two people really can share a first name, and both of them need a team. The Names readout counts how many entries were repeated so you can see it happened, and a Remove switch strips the repeats and keeps the first spelling. Two entries count as the same name when they match apart from capitalisation and extra spaces, so Ben, ben and BEN are one person typed three times.
How do I paste the teams into a message?: Copy teams puts every team on the clipboard as plain text, one team per paragraph: the team name on its own line, then one member per line. That pastes cleanly into Slack, WhatsApp, email or a document without turning into a table. Each team row also has its own Copy button for a single team. Nothing is uploaded to do this, the copy is made in your browser.
Can I name the teams something other than numbers?: Yes. Numbered gives Team 1, Team 2 and so on. Colours gives twelve named teams, Red through Lime, and past twelve it numbers round again as Red 2, Blue 2. Custom takes your own list, separated by commas or line breaks, and falls back to Team 4, Team 5 for any teams your list does not reach, so no team is left unnamed.
Is there a limit on how many names I can paste?: No limit is imposed. The whole tool runs in your browser with nothing uploaded and no account, so the practical ceiling is your device's memory rather than a plan. Names are separated by line breaks and by commas, which means a column copied out of a spreadsheet and a comma list typed by hand both work. Your list and settings are remembered in this browser only, so the same roster is there when you come back.
Can I make random pairs or classroom groups?: Yes. Choose Size of team and enter 2 for random partners, or another maximum size for classroom groups, golf groups or five-a-side players. An odd count leaves one group with a single person when pairing. The tool balances member counts; it does not balance skill levels or enforce keep-together rules.
Can I pick a random NBA, NFL or MLB team?: Yes. The separate league picker contains 30 NBA teams, 32 NFL teams and 30 MLB teams, with names checked on October 5, 2026. Select a league and press Pick team. Each pick is independent and may repeat. It chooses a team name, not a player roster, historical team or video-game lineup.
Can I use this with Excel, Google Sheets or my phone?: Paste a single name column from Excel or Google Sheets into Names, then use Copy teams to paste the result back. This page runs in a current browser on a phone, tablet or computer, including iPhone, Android, Windows and Mac. It does not supply a spreadsheet formula, native app or bot.
Can I pick a random basketball or baseball team?: Use NBA in the league picker for one of the fixed basketball team names, or MLB for one of the fixed baseball team names. These are the leagues included here; college, international and historical team lists are not supplied.
Can I pick a random hockey, football or sports team?: Use the league picker for one existing team: NHL for hockey, NFL for American football, NBA for basketball or MLB for baseball. The stated fixed name lists are dated October 5, 2026. These are team-name picks, without player rosters, historical teams or a league affiliation. Soccer and other named leagues are not supplied.

Every arrangement is equally likely: the shuffle is Fisher–Yates on cryptographic random numbers. When names do not divide evenly the earlier teams take the extra person, and the header says which.