in reply to dynamic scalar names?

Maybe you mean: 
use strict;

{ # variable variable stuff allowed in here
no strict 'refs';
$name = 'foo';
$$name = $value; # does: $foo = $value
} # no more variable variable stuff anymore

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Note that it is a good thing to always use strict and only loosen that when it's really needed.

Liz

Update: You're better off using a hash.

In Section Seekers of Perl Wisdom