Variable name data element

Definition
A variable name data element is

"[a] data element that identifies a set (array) of similar values (data items). By varying certain identifiers in the name the entire set (array) of values can be identified. For example, a set of values that give population by State and Year could be identified by the data element "Population of (State) in (Year)" where State and Year are variable names. The variable names are used to identify particular values in an array."