Kris Kindle, sorted in a minute
Kris Kindle, or KK, is what Ireland calls Secret Santa: everyone in the group draws one name, buys that person a gift within an agreed budget, and keeps quiet about it until the day. The name comes from Kris Kringle, an English form of the German Christkindl. The idea is the same wherever you are, and this generator does the draw for you.
How it works
Enter the names, the date and the budget in the form above, add any pairs who should not draw each other, and press the button. Each person gets a private link that shows who they are buying for. Send the links by WhatsApp or text, or add email addresses and we will send them for you. Nobody needs to sign up for anything.
Kris Kindle at work
Office KKs run best with a modest budget and a clear date, usually the Christmas party or the last Friday before the break. Ask people whether they want to take part before you add them. If the team is large, a wishlist saves everyone a lot of guessing, and it does not spoil the surprise: you still do not know who is buying for you.
Kris Kindle in the family
Big families use a Kris Kindle so that each adult buys one proper present instead of a dozen small ones. Add each couple as an exclusion so that partners do not draw each other, and agree whether the children are included or kept for Santy. Families who are spread around the country, or abroad, can post their presents; our guide to a virtual Secret Santa covers the timing.
Setting the budget
Pick an amount everyone can manage comfortably. For offices that is often 10 or 20 euro; families doing one main present each tend to go higher. Whatever you choose, it is a limit, not a target.
Keeping it secret
The draw happens on our server. As the organizer you can see who has opened their link, but never who got whom, so you can take part yourself. If someone pulls out before anyone has opened their link, delete the group and create it again without them.
Stuck for a present? Browse Secret Santa gift ideas, or go straight to gifts under 10 and gifts under 20.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kris Kindle the same as Secret Santa?
Yes. It is the same gift exchange under the name used in Ireland. You may also see it written Kris Kringle or shortened to KK.
Is the Kris Kindle generator free?
Yes. There is no account and nothing to pay. We may earn a small commission if someone buys a gift through one of our links, at no extra cost to them.
Can couples be kept apart in the draw?
Yes. Add each couple as an exclusion before you draw and they will not get each other.
What happens to our names afterwards?
Everything is deleted automatically 30 days after the date of your exchange, and you can delete the group yourself at any time.