Secret Santa name tags and gift tags

How to print and use Secret Santa name tags

1. Type each name into the tool above, one per tag.
2. Print on regular paper or a heavier card stock, which is easier to punch and tie.
3. Cut the tags apart. A paper trimmer gives cleaner edges than scissors.
4. Use a hole punch and a loop of string, or tape the tag to the present.
5. Put the tag on before you wrap, or on the front of the wrapped gift, depending on how you handle the exchange.

What belongs on a gift tag

The basic tag has two lines: "To" and "From". In a Secret Santa, the From line says "Your Secret Santa", or nothing. Add a short message if you want, but keep it short.

A tag that has a name on it is useful at a party where gifts sit in a pile. Without it, people will spend the first ten minutes reading the wrapping paper.

• Use first names, or first name and last initial if two people share a name.
• Do not add a hint on the tag unless you want to be found.
• If you wrote it by hand, ask someone else to write it, since handwriting can give you away.
• Add a number on the back if the reveal is ordered, so you can match gifts to people.

Name tags for the party versus gift tags

There are two kinds of tags that people mix up. A gift tag goes on the present. A name tag goes on a person at the party. At a big reveal party with 20 or more people, name tags help the group put names to faces, particularly if the group is a mix of teams or relatives who do not see each other often.

If you are planning a party with a program, the Secret Santa reveal party plan has a timed run of show, and the guess-who scorecard goes well with name tags.

A way to avoid tags at all

If you give out gifts in person at a party, you can skip tags by handing each gift to a person who calls out a name. It slows down a little but keeps things anonymous, since nobody looks at the handwriting on a tag. Or leave the gifts in a central bag and have people reach in by name.

For classrooms, tags are very helpful: each child can find their own gift without help. See Secret Santa for kids for classroom tips.

Print one or two extra tags in case of mistakes or a late joiner.

Make a draw first

You cannot print tags until you know who has whom. If you are starting from scratch, use the Secret Santa generator to draw names fairly, or create a group so everyone gets their own name privately. The organizer does not need to see the matches.

Draw names first, then print the tags. Create your group, free. Create your group, free