Privacy Policy

Last updated:

Plain summary. NameWheels is a static website. The wheel itself runs entirely in your browser — your name lists never reach our servers. We use Google Analytics for aggregate traffic measurement and a single Google AdSense placement to fund free hosting; both set their own cookies. You can opt out of ad personalisation at google.com/settings/ads.

1. Who we are

This policy describes how NameWheels (the "site", "we", "us") handles personal information processed in connection with namewheels.com and its sub-pages. NameWheels is operated as an independent publisher; the site has no user accounts and no backend application server.

2. Information we collect

We collect the smallest amount of data we can while still being able to run and improve the site.

From you, directly

  • Email correspondence: if you write to us at [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected], we receive your message, your email address and any details you choose to share.
  • Wheel content: the names you type into a wheel are stored in your browser's localStorage on your own device. They are not sent to our servers.

Automatically, when you visit

  • Standard request data: our hosting provider/CDN logs ordinary HTTP request information such as your IP address, user-agent string, referrer, and the resources requested. These logs are used for security, abuse prevention and aggregate traffic measurement.
  • Analytics events: Google Analytics 4 collects aggregated, pseudonymous usage data — see section 5.
  • Advertising signals: Google AdSense and its ad-tech partners may receive request data and read or set cookies for ad delivery and measurement — see section 6.

3. How we use information

  • To operate, maintain and secure the site.
  • To measure aggregate traffic so we can plan content and improvements.
  • To serve advertising that funds free hosting of the site.
  • To respond to enquiries you send us by email.
  • To detect and prevent abuse, fraud, and breaches of our Terms.
  • To comply with legal obligations and respond to lawful requests.

We do not sell personal information. We do not run email marketing. We do not build user profiles ourselves.

4. Cookies and similar technologies

NameWheels itself does not set first-party tracking cookies. We use the browser's localStorage to remember your name list and theme preference on your own device. Third-party services (Google Analytics, Google AdSense) set their own cookies. A full breakdown — including names, purposes, durations and how to opt out — is in our dedicated Cookie Policy.

5. Analytics (Google Analytics)

We use Google Analytics 4 (measurement ID G-MN80K5SEQ2) to understand which pages get traffic, how visitors arrive (referrer/search), and which devices/browsers they use. Google processes this data on our behalf and provides aggregated reports.

We do not enable Analytics' advertising features, remarketing audiences, or user-id stitching. Our IP-collection is subject to Google's standard truncation and regional handling.

You can prevent your activity being measured by Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on, by using a browser-level tracker blocker, or by clearing the _ga* cookies described in our Cookie Policy.

6. Advertising (Google AdSense)

NameWheels is a Google AdSense publisher (publisher ID listed in our /ads.txt). To fund free hosting, we display advertising supplied by Google. The ad you see is selected by Google in real time and may be either non-personalised (NPA) or personalised, depending on your region, your settings, and your consent.

What this means in practice

  • Third-party vendors: Google, as a third-party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on this site. Google may also use other ad-tech partners (its "Authorized Buyers" / "Certified External Vendors") to deliver, measure, and (where permitted) personalise advertising.
  • Personalised advertising: Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visits to NameWheels and other sites on the internet, where you have not opted out of ad personalisation.
  • DoubleClick / DART cookie: Google may use cookies such as __gads, __gpi, IDE, and NID for ad selection, measurement, and frequency capping.
  • Data Google may receive: the URL and category of the page you are viewing, your IP address, browser/device characteristics, and any signals that have been associated with your browser by Google's advertising systems.
  • EEA, UK and Switzerland: where required, Google's IAB-TCF-compatible consent banner runs on top of NameWheels and records your choice. You may withdraw or change consent at any time via the same banner or via Google's ad settings.
  • California (CCPA / CPRA): certain advertising cookie behaviour may constitute "sharing" personal information for cross-context behavioural advertising. You may opt out using the controls described in section 9.

How to opt out

Opting out will not stop ads being shown — it just means they will be non-personalised.

7. Other third parties

The page also loads fonts from Google Fonts (fonts.googleapis.com / fonts.gstatic.com); these requests are handled by Google and may be subject to Google's Privacy Policy.

We do not embed social-media widgets, chat widgets, marketing pixels, or session-replay tools.

9. Your rights (GDPR & CCPA)

Depending on where you live, you may have some or all of the following rights:

  • Access — request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
  • Correction — ask us to correct inaccurate information.
  • Deletion / "right to be forgotten" — ask us to delete personal information.
  • Restriction or objection — ask us to stop, or limit, certain processing (including a right to object to direct marketing — which we do not do).
  • Data portability — receive certain data in a portable format. (Note: most data on NameWheels never leaves your browser, so this is already in your hands.)
  • Withdraw consent — where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw it at any time via the cookie banner or your browser controls.
  • Lodge a complaint — with your local data-protection authority.
  • California residents (CCPA / CPRA): you may request to know, delete or correct personal information, and you may opt out of "sale" or "sharing" of personal information for cross-context behavioural advertising. Use the opt-out links in section 6, or email [email protected]. We do not knowingly sell or share personal information of consumers under 16.

To exercise any of these rights, email [email protected]. We may need to verify your identity and we will respond within the timeframe required by your jurisdiction.

10. Data retention

  • localStorage on your device: kept until you clear your browser data.
  • Analytics data in Google Analytics: retained according to our property's data-retention setting (currently the GA4 default).
  • Hosting/CDN logs: kept by our hosting provider for a short period for security and abuse-prevention purposes, then rotated.
  • Email correspondence: retained as long as needed to handle your enquiry plus a reasonable period to comply with legal obligations and resolve disputes.

11. Children's privacy

NameWheels is suitable for general audiences, including classroom use. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 (or the equivalent minimum age in your jurisdiction). Where the site is used by minors, ad personalisation falls under Google's child-directed treatment rules. If you believe a child has provided personal information to us, contact [email protected] and we will take appropriate steps.

12. International transfers

NameWheels is served from a global CDN, and our analytics and advertising vendors operate internationally. This means your information may be processed in countries other than your own, including the United States. Where such transfers occur from the EEA, UK or Switzerland, they rely on Google's published transfer safeguards (such as Standard Contractual Clauses).

13. Security

NameWheels is a static site delivered over HTTPS. Because there is no user account and no backend processing of your name lists, the surface available to compromise personal data on our side is very small. We rely on standard CDN protections, transport encryption, and the security guarantees of our analytics and advertising vendors.

14. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in how the site works, in our vendors, or in applicable law. Material changes will be reflected in the "Last updated" date at the top of the page and, where appropriate, called out at the top of the page for a reasonable period.

15. Contact

For any privacy-related question, email [email protected] or use the contact page. For cookies specifically, see the Cookie Policy.