#print odd numbered lines sed -n 1~2p names.lst #print even numbered lines sed -n 2~2p names.lst #randomize name list random="$(sort -R names.lst)" echo $random #set Internal Field Separator to space IFS=" " echo $random #put even names and odd names into lists odds="$(echo $random|sed -n 1~2p)" evens="$(echo $random|sed -n 2~2p)" #print name list team up paste <(echo "$odds") <(echo "$evens") #Formatted paste <(echo "$odds") <(echo "$evens")|column -t