$conf = XMLin($cnf, ForceArray => [ 't' ]);
print Dumper($conf);

##</code><code>##

File:
<conf>
    <t>
        <names>corefile</names>
    </t>
    <t>
        <names>orphan</names>
    </t>
</conf>

Produces expected results:
$VAR1 = {
          't' => [
                 {
                   'names' => 'corefile'
                 },
                 {
                   'names' => 'orphan'
                 }
               ]
        };

File:
<conf>
    <t>
        <name>corefile</name>
    </t>
    <t>
        <name>orphan</name>
    </t>

Produces:
$VAR1 = {
          't' => {
                 'corefile' => {},
                 'orphan' => {}
               }
        };