Pairing up names

pairs.py

#!/usr/bin/python3

import random

def pair_names(filename, output_filename):
    with open(filename, 'r') as f:
        names = [line.strip() for line in f]
    random.shuffle(names)
    pairs = [names[n:n+2] for n in range(0, len(names), 2)]
    if len(names) % 2 != 0:
        pairs[-2].append(pairs[-1][0])
        pairs = pairs[:-1]
    
    with open(output_filename, 'w') as f:
        for pair in pairs:
            f.write(' & '.join(pair) + '\n')

pair_names('names.txt', 'pairings.txt')