# some test data
a <- 5
b <- 6
li <- list(a1=a,b2=b)

# my test function
tf <- function(obj){
nm <- deparse(substitute(obj))
res <- list(myName=nm)
res
}

tf(a)
#returns
$myName
[1] "a"

lapply(li,function(x) tf(x))
# returns
$a1
$a1$myName
[1] "x"


$b2
$b2$myName
[1] "x"

$a1
$a1$myName
[1] "a1"


$b2
$b2$myName
[1] "b1"

lapply(li, function(x) {
  call1 <-  sys.call(1)
  call1[[1]] <- as.name("names")
  call1 <- call1[1:2]
  nm <- eval(call1)
  y <- deparse(substitute(x))
  y <- gsub("\D", "", y)
  y <- as.numeric(y)
  list(myname=nm[y])
})