The tool uses the Fisher-Yates shuffle algorithm—a proven method for producing unbiased random permutations. After shuffling all names, they are distributed evenly across the specified number of teams (or by the specified team size). Any remainder is spread across the first few teams so that group sizes differ by at most one member.

Yes. Each generation uses JavaScript's Math.random() combined with Fisher-Yates shuffling, ensuring every permutation is equally likely. For most practical purposes (classrooms, sports, team-building), this provides excellent randomness. If you need cryptographically secure randomness, consider using a dedicated hardware random source.

Yes, whenever possible. If the total number of names is evenly divisible by the number of teams, all teams will have exactly the same size. When there's a remainder, the extra members are distributed one per team starting from the first team—so groups never differ by more than one person. For example, 10 names split into 3 teams yields sizes of 4, 3, and 3.

The tool handles remainders gracefully. If you split 13 names into 4 teams, you'll get team sizes of 4, 3, 3, and 3—the first team(s) absorb the extra member(s). The maximum size difference between any two teams is always 1. This ensures the fairest possible distribution.

Absolutely! Use the "By # per Team" mode. Simply specify how many members you want in each group, and the tool automatically calculates how many teams are needed. Any leftover names form a smaller final team. This is perfect for activities with a fixed team size requirement.

There's no strict limit. You can input hundreds of names without performance issues. The tool processes everything client-side in your browser—no data is ever uploaded to a server. For extremely large lists (1000+ names), generation may take a fraction of a second longer, but it remains fast and responsive.

Yes! Use the Export dropdown to copy results as formatted text (paste into email, chat, or docs) or download as a CSV file (open in Excel, Google Sheets, or any spreadsheet app). CSV exports include team names and member lists in a clean tabular format.

100% free and private. All processing happens locally in your browser using JavaScript. Your name lists are never transmitted, stored, or logged on any server. You can use this tool as many times as you want with complete privacy. No sign-up, no ads, no tracking.

For skill-based fairness, we recommend pre-sorting or tagging names before generation. For example, add a skill rating in parentheses (e.g., "Alice (A)", "Bob (B)") and manually adjust after random generation. Future versions may include weighted balancing. Alternatively, generate multiple times and pick the distribution that looks most balanced.