library(purrr)

prfx <- letters[1:4]
sffx <- letters[2:5]

var_names <- as.vector(outer(
  X = prfx,
  Y = sffx,
  FUN = paste,
  sep = "_"
))

Create a named list

set_names(flatten(map(prfx, function(p) {
  map_int(sffx, function(s, p) {
    sum(c(as.integer(charToRaw(p)),
          as.integer(charToRaw(s))))
  }, p)
})), var_names) -> a

Inspect it

str(a)

## List of 16
##  $ a_b: int 195
##  $ b_b: int 196
##  $ c_b: int 197
##  $ d_b: int 198
##  $ a_c: int 196
##  $ b_c: int 197
##  $ c_c: int 198
##  $ d_c: int 199
##  $ a_d: int 197
##  $ b_d: int 198
##  $ c_d: int 199
##  $ d_d: int 200
##  $ a_e: int 198
##  $ b_e: int 199
##  $ c_e: int 200
##  $ d_e: int 201

If you really need to avoid typing a$a_b (etc) then

attach(as.environment(a))

And you can reference them directly

a_b

## [1] 195

a_c

## [1] 196

But, as Thomas said, you should really keep them in a list.