why variable names can't start with numericals

[nitin kanwar]

I was asked in an interview as to why the variable names can't start with a numerical value ? To be more precise the interviewer wanted to know the lexical / compilation problems associated with declaring a variable name that starts with a numerical ?

Answers will be appreciated.

[Seetharaman Venkatasamy]

Welcome to JavaRanch

think about this:

int 2L = 100;
long value = 2L;//what is the value of value variable?

and

int 4L = 200;
System.out.println(4L);//???