This team generator takes a plain list of names and splits it into random groups. Paste the names one per line, choose either the number of teams or the number of people on each team, and press Generate. You get a clean set of teams with sizes as even as the list allows.
It is useful for gym class, group projects, pickup games, trivia nights, and work breakouts. Picking teams by hand often leaves the same people together or the same person chosen last. A random split takes that out of everyone's hands and saves a few awkward minutes.
How to make teams
The whole process takes a few seconds.
- Paste or type names into the box, one per line. Blank lines are ignored.
- Choose a mode: a set number of teams, or a set number of people per team.
- Press Generate to see the teams.
- Press Copy to paste the result into a chat, email, or slide. Generate again for a new mix.
How the split stays fair
The list is shuffled with the Fisher–Yates method, using random numbers from your browser's crypto.getRandomValues. Every possible order of the names is equally likely, so nobody has a better or worse shot at landing on any team.
After the shuffle, names are dealt out one at a time across the teams, like dealing cards. That keeps team sizes within one person of each other. With 23 names and 4 teams you get three teams of 6 and one team of 5, never a team of 8 next to a team of 3.
Tips for better groups
- Count your players first and pick a team count that divides cleanly if even sizes matter.
- If a few people must be on different teams, such as two captains, generate first and swap by hand if needed.
- For one-at-a-time picks instead of whole teams, use the random name picker.
- Need to decide which team starts? Settle it with a coin flip.
Frequently asked questions
Are the teams really random?
Yes. The names are shuffled with the Fisher–Yates algorithm using crypto-grade random numbers from your browser. Every order of the list is equally likely, so each person has the same chance of ending up on any team.
What happens if the names do not divide evenly?
The generator balances sizes so no two teams differ by more than one person. Some teams get one extra member. It never leaves one team badly short while another is overloaded.
Can I choose people per team instead of number of teams?
Yes. Switch the mode to people per team and enter a size. The tool works out how many teams that makes and spreads any leftover people across them so sizes stay close.
Are the names stored anywhere?
No. The shuffle runs in your browser, and the names are not uploaded to a server. When you close the page, the list is gone unless you copied the result somewhere yourself.