if($name =~ /^[a-z0-9_]$/i && $name !~ /^(?:master|model|dbccdb|sybsecurity|sybsystemdb|sybsystemprocs|tempdb|DBA)$/) { print "allowed\n" } else { print "not allowed\n" } #### if($name =~ /^(?!(master|model|dbccdb|sybsecurity|sybsystemdb|sybsystemprocs|tempdb|DBA)$)(^[a-z0-9_]+$)/i) { print "allowed\n" } else { print "not allowed\n" }