drawnames com
Tired of clunky Secret Santa setups?
DrawNames.com makes gift exchanges dead simple—no emails, no drama, just fast, fair name draws and shared wish lists that actually work.
The Problem with Traditional Gift Exchanges
Think about every Secret Santa you've ever been part of. Someone forgets to draw names. Someone ends up with their spouse. Someone else gets three bath bombs for the third year in a row. It’s chaos—especially in larger groups or when people are remote.
DrawNames.com exists to fix all that. And it actually works.
What Is DrawNames.com?
It’s an online tool built to handle gift exchanges with way less friction. You set up a group, drop in everyone’s names, and the site randomly assigns Secret Santas. Done. No paper slips. No crossed wires.
It’s free, no account required, and no one needs to download anything (unless they want the app, which is excellent, by the way).
How It Works (Without the Headache)
The setup takes maybe two minutes:
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Create a group.
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Add names and emails.
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Set exclusions (like keeping spouses from drawing each other).
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Click "Draw Names."
Everyone gets an email with their person, and from there, they can add a wish list, ask anonymous questions, or just sit back until gift day.
It’s fast, it’s clean, and the UI doesn’t make you feel like you’re wrestling with your aunt’s Facebook settings.
Exclusions: The Overlooked Lifesaver
Let’s say you’re doing a work gift exchange and don’t want managers pulling each other’s names, or siblings skipping each other in a family draw. Most platforms either skip this or make it a pain.
On DrawNames, exclusions are built-in and easy to set. It’s one of the reasons it’s so reliable—because you won’t end up drawing your roommate again just because the app didn’t think it mattered.
Wish Lists That Actually Help
Wish lists sound basic, but they solve a real problem: no one wants to get something they’ll never use.
Participants can add links, notes, or just list ideas. Say someone adds “coffee stuff” or links a French press. That’s enough to steer their gifter in the right direction without spoiling the surprise.
And it’s optional. So if someone wants to keep it spontaneous, they can skip it altogether.
Anonymous Questions = Secret Santa Superpower
Here’s where it gets clever. You can send anonymous questions to the person you drew. “Do you prefer wine or whiskey?” or “What’s your T-shirt size?” Stuff you wouldn’t normally ask without giving yourself away.
It’s like being able to read your giftee’s mind… without actually ruining the mystery.
The App’s Just as Good
There’s a DrawNames app for iOS and Android. It’s just as smooth as the website. You can get reminders, access wish lists, and check your assigned name at any time.
Reviews are strong too—4.8 stars on Google Play, 4.9 on the App Store. People like it because it works and doesn’t try to be flashy for no reason.
No Login? Yep, Still Private
No login might sound risky, but it’s not. You get a private group link, and emails are only used to send assignments. No data mining. No annoying newsletters. No password reset loops from hell.
You use it, it does the job, and you're out.
Who It’s Perfect For
Big family scattered across the country? Done.
Remote team looking for a quick holiday setup? Yep.
Friend group who needs structure but hates formal planning? Absolutely.
It scales up or down. You can run a 5-person birthday draw or a 50-person office exchange and not lose your mind.
Real Feedback, Not Just Hype
On social media, they’ve got a solid following—nearly 10K on Facebook, a few hundred on X (Twitter), and growing fast on Instagram. The vibe is festive, not corporate.
Trustpilot gives them about 3.5 stars. Not perfect, but most of the low ratings come from user errors or people missing email confirmations. The actual mechanics? Rock solid.
No-Brainer Use Cases
DrawNames isn’t just for Christmas. People use it for:
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Office birthdays
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Baby showers
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Wedding party thank-you swaps
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Graduation gift circles
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Family reunions
Basically, anytime you need to give gifts in a group and want it to be fair, fast, and a little fun.
Quick Tips for Using It Right
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Start your group early so people have time to prep.
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Set a clear budget to keep things fair.
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Encourage people to actually fill in their wish list.
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Remind them to check their spam folder for the assignment email.
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Use the anonymous questions—it’s a seriously underrated feature.
Why It Wins
DrawNames doesn’t try to be everything. It’s not cluttered. It doesn’t nag you with features you don’t want. It does one job—organizing gift exchanges—and it does it extremely well.
If you're the one always stuck organizing things, this site is like finally having backup.
If you're not, it's still easy enough that even your least tech-savvy cousin can figure it out.
Bottom line: DrawNames.com takes the hassle out of gift-giving. No more stress, no more guesswork, no more awkward repeats. Just a simple system that works, and makes group gifting actually fun again.
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