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Random matchmaker

Shuffle a list and split it into random pairs or groups, leftover handled.

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Random matchmaker
Drawing names into random pairs is one of those tasks that feels trivial until you need it to be genuinely fair — a Secret Santa where nobody can peek, tennis doubles that aren't the same partners as last week, debate teams, code-review buddies, interview panels. Paste your list, one name per line, and this tool shuffles it and slices it into pairs, each on its own line.
The shuffle is a proper Fisher–Yates using the browser's cryptographic randomness, not Math.random, so the draw is unbiased and every run genuinely differs — reshuffle until the room is happy. Members per group turns pairs into trios, foursomes or whole teams; the join style sets how partners read on the line — A vs B for a bracket, A → B for a gift chain, a comma or tab for pasting into a sheet. Numbering makes the output a ready match list.
An odd list is the moment most pairing tools quietly cheat — dropping someone or forcing a lopsided group. This one is honest: it makes as many full groups as the count allows and reports the leftover in the tally, so you decide what to do with the odd one out (sit them out, make one trio, pair them with the organizer) rather than the tool deciding for you. Duplicate names are removed by default so the same person can't land in two groups.
Everything runs locally in your browser — the names never leave your device, which matters for a fair Secret Santa.
FAQ
Is the pairing actually random?
Yes. It uses a Fisher–Yates shuffle driven by crypto.getRandomValues, the browser's cryptographic randomness — not Math.random. The draw is unbiased and unpredictable, and every run reshuffles from scratch.
What happens with an odd number of names?
The tool forms as many complete groups as it can and reports the remainder as "left over" in the tally, without dropping or padding anyone. You decide the fate of the odd one out — a trio, a bye, or pairing them with yourself.
Can I make groups larger than pairs?
Yes — set members per group to 3, 4 or more for trios, teams or tables. The leftover logic works the same: full groups first, remainder reported.
Will the same person appear twice?
No — duplicates are removed by default before shuffling, so each name is placed once. Turn that off if your list intentionally repeats entries (e.g. slots rather than people).
Is my list uploaded anywhere?
No. The shuffle and pairing run entirely in your browser and your list never leaves your device.