Please note: While I have tested this fairly extensively, I cannot guarantee that it works flawlessly on all browsers. Please send me feedback, either to tell me you have found this useful, or to make suggestions.


This page allows you to "draw names" for a gift exchange in a group of 4 to 15 people, taking into account a given set of restrictions (so that, for example, someone does not get the name of his/her spouse).


Step 1: What is the total number of people in the exchange?

Step 2: Enter the (unique) names of those in the exchange, and specify restrictions
For restrictions, a check (or X) means that combination is not allowed.
Check this box  to use symmetric restrictions (that is, if A cannot pick B, then B cannot pick A).

If you check this box  you may choose to supply email addresses (which do not have to be unique) for some or all members of the exchange. Step 4 (notification) might be slightly easier if you enter email addresses. No email addresses are saved by this Web site, and all email messages will be sent by you, not by bluffton.edu.

You can save this information, along with the current set of matches, in one of two ways:
  1. in a "cookie" (if your browser is set to allow them).
when restrictions are complete (or to generate a new set of matches).
Step 3: Inform each person whose name he/she "picked"

This can be done in two ways:

plain text—which means that anyone can read it (including you).
secret code—which can be deciphered by visiting the decoding page. This option might be preferred if some members of the exchange share the same email address—although obviously, anyone who knows the secret code can visit the decoding page.
Using either method, you can do one or both of the following:
º  Print a page showing each person's assigned secret pal in plain text in code, along with the address of the decoding page. This page can then be saved for reference, and/or it can be cut into individual strips and distributed. to open a new window; note that if your browser has a pop-up blocker, it might not allow this.
º  Send to each person an email message containing the name of his/her assigned secret pal his/her secret code and a link to the decoding page. The buttons below generate the email messages for each person.
Check this box  if you send/receive email using a separate program (such as Outlook, Apple Mail, or Thunderbird). The buttons on the right will then create a new message using that program.

Leave the box unchecked if you use a Web-based mail account (such as Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, Windows Live Mail, or Outlook Web Access). You may then copy the message from the box into a new message to each person.
Message for: