diff --git a/DESCRIPTION b/DESCRIPTION
index 25d9bb0c3..8fa36bb3c 100644
--- a/DESCRIPTION
+++ b/DESCRIPTION
@@ -72,8 +72,8 @@ Collate:
     'join_keys.R'
     'teal.data.R'
     'teal_data-class.R'
-    'teal_data-datanames.R'
     'teal_data-get_code.R'
+    'teal_data-names.R'
     'teal_data-show.R'
     'teal_data.R'
     'testhat-helpers.R'
diff --git a/NAMESPACE b/NAMESPACE
index 71db8957b..5391bfda9 100644
--- a/NAMESPACE
+++ b/NAMESPACE
@@ -14,11 +14,12 @@ S3method(format,join_keys)
 S3method(join_keys,default)
 S3method(join_keys,join_keys)
 S3method(join_keys,teal_data)
+S3method(names,"teal_data<-")
+S3method(names,teal_data)
 S3method(parents,join_keys)
 S3method(parents,teal_data)
 S3method(print,join_keys)
 export("col_labels<-")
-export("datanames<-")
 export("get_join_keys<-")
 export("join_keys<-")
 export("parents<-")
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index c37b3a076..26db0f66e 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -3,16 +3,18 @@
 ### Breaking changes
 
 - soft deprecate `datanames` argument of `get_code()`. Use `names` instead.
+- Soft deprecate of `datanames()` and `datanames(x) <- value` functions. 
+Use `names()` and `names(x) <- value` instead.
 
 ### Enhancements
 
-- `datanames()`
-    - if `join_keys` are provided, the `datanames()` are now sorted in topological way (`Kahn` algorithm),
+- `names()` function is introduced replacing `datanames`.
+    - if `join_keys` are provided, the `names()` are now sorted in topological way (`Kahn` algorithm),
     which means the parent dataset always precedes the child dataset.
-    - are extended by the parent dataset name, if one of the child dataset exist in `datanames()` and
+    - are extended by the parent dataset name, if one of the child dataset exist in `names()` and
     the connection between child-parent is set through `join_keys` and `parent` exist in `teal_data` environment.
     - do not allow to set a dataset name that do not exist in `teal_data` environment.
-    - `teal_data` no longer set default `datanames()` based on `join_keys` names - it uses only data names.
+    - `teal_data` no longer set default `names()` based on `join_keys` names - it uses only data names.
 
 ### Miscellaneous
 
diff --git a/R/deprecated.R b/R/deprecated.R
index d4b3e9e93..b876fb2ac 100644
--- a/R/deprecated.R
+++ b/R/deprecated.R
@@ -343,3 +343,38 @@ get_join_keys <- function(...) {
 get_labels <- function(...) {
   .deprecate_function("get_labels()", "Use col_labels(data)")
 }
+
+#' Names of data sets in `teal_data` object
+#'
+#' @description
+#' `r lifecycle::badge("deprecated")`
+#'
+#' Use `names()` instead of `datanames()`.
+#'
+#' `datanames()` is deprecated. If object should be hidden, then use a `.` (dot)
+#' prefix for the object's name.
+#'
+#' @param x (`teal_data` or `qenv_error`) object to access or modify
+#' @param ... (`character`) new value for `@datanames`; all elements must be names of variables existing in `@env`
+#'
+#' @return The contents of `@datanames` or `teal_data` object with updated `@datanames`.
+#'
+#'
+#' @name datanames
+
+#' @rdname datanames
+#' @export
+datanames <- function(x, ...) {
+  lifecycle::deprecate_soft("0.6.1", "datanames()", details = "names()")
+  names(x)
+}
+
+#' @rdname datanames
+`datanames<-` <- function(x, value, ...) {
+  lifecycle::deprecate_soft(
+    "0.6.1",
+    "`datanames<-`()",
+    details = "Function has no effect. Use a `.` (dot) prefix to hide objects instead in `teal_data`. See the documentation for more details."
+  )
+  names(x)
+}
diff --git a/R/join_keys.R b/R/join_keys.R
index 1798a46af..47fb97836 100644
--- a/R/join_keys.R
+++ b/R/join_keys.R
@@ -142,7 +142,6 @@ join_keys.teal_data <- function(...) {
 #' join_keys(td)
 `join_keys<-.teal_data` <- function(x, value) {
   join_keys(x@join_keys) <- value
-  datanames(x) <- x@datanames # datanames fun manages some exceptions
   x
 }
 
diff --git a/R/teal_data-class.R b/R/teal_data-class.R
index 3015797b9..23fc7c8e6 100644
--- a/R/teal_data-class.R
+++ b/R/teal_data-class.R
@@ -26,9 +26,6 @@ setOldClass("join_keys")
 #' @slot messages (`character`) vector of messages raised when evaluating code.
 #' @slot join_keys (`join_keys`) object specifying joining keys for data sets in `@env`.
 #'  Access or modify with [join_keys()].
-#' @slot datanames (`character`) vector of names of data sets in `@env`.
-#'  Used internally to distinguish them from auxiliary variables.
-#'  Access or modify with [datanames()].
 #' @slot verified (`logical(1)`) flag signifying that code in `@code` has been proven to yield contents of `@env`.
 #'  Used internally. See [`verify()`] for more details.
 #'
@@ -37,10 +34,9 @@ setOldClass("join_keys")
 setClass(
   Class = "teal_data",
   contains = "qenv",
-  slots = c(join_keys = "join_keys", datanames = "character", verified = "logical"),
+  slots = c(join_keys = "join_keys", verified = "logical"),
   prototype = list(
     join_keys = join_keys(),
-    datanames = character(0),
     verified = logical(0)
   )
 )
@@ -53,18 +49,13 @@ setClass(
 #' @param code (`character` or `language`) code to reproduce the `data`.
 #'   Accepts and stores comments also.
 #' @param join_keys (`join_keys`) object
-#' @param datanames (`character`) names of datasets passed to `data`.
-#'   Needed when non-dataset objects are needed in the `env` slot.
 #' @rdname new_teal_data
 #' @keywords internal
 new_teal_data <- function(data,
                           code = character(0),
-                          join_keys = join_keys(),
-                          datanames = names(data)) {
+                          join_keys = join_keys()) {
   checkmate::assert_list(data)
   checkmate::assert_class(join_keys, "join_keys")
-  if (is.null(datanames)) datanames <- character(0) # todo: allow to specify
-  checkmate::assert_character(datanames)
   if (!any(is.language(code), is.character(code))) {
     stop("`code` must be a character or language object.")
   }
@@ -82,8 +73,6 @@ new_teal_data <- function(data,
   new_env <- rlang::env_clone(list2env(data), parent = parent.env(.GlobalEnv))
   lockEnvironment(new_env, bindings = TRUE)
 
-  datanames <- .get_sorted_datanames(datanames = datanames, join_keys = join_keys, env = new_env)
-
   methods::new(
     "teal_data",
     env = new_env,
@@ -92,7 +81,6 @@ new_teal_data <- function(data,
     messages = rep("", length(code)),
     id = id,
     join_keys = join_keys,
-    datanames = datanames,
     verified = verified
   )
 }
diff --git a/R/teal_data-datanames.R b/R/teal_data-datanames.R
deleted file mode 100644
index d32727859..000000000
--- a/R/teal_data-datanames.R
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,68 +0,0 @@
-#' Names of data sets in `teal_data` object
-#'
-#' Get or set the value of the `datanames` slot.
-#'
-#' The `@datanames` slot in a `teal_data` object specifies which of the variables stored in its environment
-#' (the `@env` slot) are data sets to be taken into consideration.
-#' The contents of `@datanames` can be specified upon creation and default to all variables in `@env`.
-#' Variables created later, which may well be data sets, are not automatically considered such.
-#' Use this function to update the slot.
-#'
-#' @param x (`teal_data`) object to access or modify
-#' @param value (`character`) new value for `@datanames`; all elements must be names of variables existing in `@env`
-#'
-#' @return The contents of `@datanames` or `teal_data` object with updated `@datanames`.
-#'
-#' @examples
-#' td <- teal_data(iris = iris)
-#' td <- within(td, mtcars <- mtcars)
-#' datanames(td)
-#'
-#' datanames(td) <- c("iris", "mtcars")
-#' datanames(td)
-#'
-#' @name datanames
-#' @aliases datanames,teal_data-method
-#' @aliases datanames<-,teal_data,character-method
-#' @aliases datanames,qenv.error-method
-#' @aliases datanames<-,qenv.error,character-method
-
-#' @rdname datanames
-#' @export
-setGeneric("datanames", function(x) standardGeneric("datanames"))
-setMethod("datanames", signature = "teal_data", definition = function(x) {
-  x@datanames
-})
-setMethod("datanames", signature = "qenv.error", definition = function(x) {
-  NULL
-})
-
-#' @rdname datanames
-#' @export
-setGeneric("datanames<-", function(x, value) standardGeneric("datanames<-"))
-setMethod("datanames<-", signature = c("teal_data", "character"), definition = function(x, value) {
-  checkmate::assert_subset(value, names(x@env))
-  x@datanames <- .get_sorted_datanames(datanames = value, join_keys = x@join_keys, env = x@env)
-  methods::validObject(x)
-  x
-})
-setMethod("datanames<-", signature = c("qenv.error", "character"), definition = function(x, value) {
-  methods::validObject(x)
-  x
-})
-
-
-#' @keywords internal
-.get_sorted_datanames <- function(datanames, join_keys, env) {
-  child_parent <- sapply(
-    datanames,
-    function(name) parent(join_keys, name),
-    USE.NAMES = TRUE,
-    simplify = FALSE
-  )
-
-  union(
-    intersect(unlist(topological_sort(child_parent)), ls(env)),
-    datanames
-  )
-}
diff --git a/R/teal_data-names.R b/R/teal_data-names.R
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..194d120f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/R/teal_data-names.R
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+#' Names of data sets in `teal_data` object
+#'
+#' Functions to get the names of a `teal_data` object.
+#' The names are extrapolated from the objects in the `qenv` environment and
+#' are not stored statically, unlike the normal behavior of `names()` function.
+#'
+#' Objects named with a `.` (dot) prefix will be ignored and not returned,
+#' unless `all.names` parameter is set to `TRUE`.
+#'
+#' @param x A (`teal_data`) object to access or modify.
+#' @param all.names (`logical(1)`) that specifies whether to include hidden
+#' objects.
+#' @param value Does nothing as the names assignment is not supported.
+#'
+#' @return A character vector of names.
+#'
+#' @examples
+#' td <- teal_data(iris = iris)
+#' td <- within(td, mtcars <- mtcars)
+#' names(td)
+#'
+#' td <- within(td, .CO2 <- CO2)
+#' names(td)
+#'
+#' @export
+names.teal_data <- function(x, all.names = FALSE) {
+  checkmate::assert_flag(all.names)
+  # Call method on qenv class
+  names_x <- utils::getS3method("names", class = "qenv")(x, all.names)
+  .get_sorted_names(names_x, join_keys(x), teal.code::get_env(x))
+}
+
+#' @rdname names.teal_data
+#' @export
+`names.teal_data<-` <- function(x, value) {
+  warning("`names(x) <- value` assignment does nothing for teal_data objects")
+  x
+}
+
+#' @keywords internal
+.get_sorted_names <- function(datanames, join_keys, env) {
+  child_parent <- sapply(
+    datanames,
+    function(name) parent(join_keys, name),
+    USE.NAMES = TRUE,
+    simplify = FALSE
+  )
+
+  union(
+    intersect(unlist(topological_sort(child_parent)), ls(env, all.names = TRUE)),
+    datanames
+  )
+}
diff --git a/man/datanames.Rd b/man/datanames.Rd
index 4908979a2..16307f003 100644
--- a/man/datanames.Rd
+++ b/man/datanames.Rd
@@ -1,42 +1,27 @@
 % Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
-% Please edit documentation in R/teal_data-datanames.R
+% Please edit documentation in R/deprecated.R
 \name{datanames}
 \alias{datanames}
-\alias{datanames,teal_data-method}
-\alias{datanames<-,teal_data,character-method}
-\alias{datanames,qenv.error-method}
-\alias{datanames<-,qenv.error,character-method}
 \alias{datanames<-}
 \title{Names of data sets in \code{teal_data} object}
 \usage{
-datanames(x)
+datanames(x, ...)
 
-datanames(x) <- value
+datanames(x, ...) <- value
 }
 \arguments{
-\item{x}{(\code{teal_data}) object to access or modify}
+\item{x}{(\code{teal_data} or \code{qenv_error}) object to access or modify}
 
-\item{value}{(\code{character}) new value for \verb{@datanames}; all elements must be names of variables existing in \verb{@env}}
+\item{...}{(\code{character}) new value for \verb{@datanames}; all elements must be names of variables existing in \verb{@env}}
 }
 \value{
 The contents of \verb{@datanames} or \code{teal_data} object with updated \verb{@datanames}.
 }
 \description{
-Get or set the value of the \code{datanames} slot.
-}
-\details{
-The \verb{@datanames} slot in a \code{teal_data} object specifies which of the variables stored in its environment
-(the \verb{@env} slot) are data sets to be taken into consideration.
-The contents of \verb{@datanames} can be specified upon creation and default to all variables in \verb{@env}.
-Variables created later, which may well be data sets, are not automatically considered such.
-Use this function to update the slot.
-}
-\examples{
-td <- teal_data(iris = iris)
-td <- within(td, mtcars <- mtcars)
-datanames(td)
+\ifelse{html}{\href{https://lifecycle.r-lib.org/articles/stages.html#deprecated}{\figure{lifecycle-deprecated.svg}{options: alt='[Deprecated]'}}}{\strong{[Deprecated]}}
 
-datanames(td) <- c("iris", "mtcars")
-datanames(td)
+Use \code{names()} instead of \code{datanames()}.
 
+\code{datanames()} is deprecated. If object should be hidden, then use a \code{.} (dot)
+prefix for the object's name.
 }
diff --git a/man/names.teal_data.Rd b/man/names.teal_data.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3daeee900
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/names.teal_data.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/teal_data-names.R
+\name{names.teal_data}
+\alias{names.teal_data}
+\alias{names.teal_data<-}
+\title{Names of data sets in \code{teal_data} object}
+\usage{
+\method{names}{teal_data}(x, all.names = FALSE)
+
+\method{names}{`teal_data<-`}(x, value)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{x}{A (\code{teal_data}) object to access or modify.}
+
+\item{all.names}{(\code{logical(1)}) that specifies whether to include hidden
+objects.}
+
+\item{value}{Does nothing as the names assignment is not supported.}
+}
+\value{
+A character vector of names.
+}
+\description{
+Functions to get the names of a \code{teal_data} object.
+The names are extrapolated from the objects in the \code{qenv} environment and
+are not stored statically, unlike the normal behavior of \code{names()} function.
+}
+\details{
+Objects named with a \code{.} (dot) prefix will be ignored and not returned,
+unless \code{all.names} parameter is set to \code{TRUE}.
+}
+\examples{
+td <- teal_data(iris = iris)
+td <- within(td, mtcars <- mtcars)
+names(td)
+
+td <- within(td, .CO2 <- CO2)
+names(td)
+
+}
diff --git a/man/new_teal_data.Rd b/man/new_teal_data.Rd
index 4ddc43c95..2bdd63ee9 100644
--- a/man/new_teal_data.Rd
+++ b/man/new_teal_data.Rd
@@ -4,12 +4,7 @@
 \alias{new_teal_data}
 \title{Initialize \code{teal_data} object}
 \usage{
-new_teal_data(
-  data,
-  code = character(0),
-  join_keys = join_keys(),
-  datanames = names(data)
-)
+new_teal_data(data, code = character(0), join_keys = join_keys())
 }
 \arguments{
 \item{data}{(\verb{named list}) of data objects.}
@@ -18,9 +13,6 @@ new_teal_data(
 Accepts and stores comments also.}
 
 \item{join_keys}{(\code{join_keys}) object}
-
-\item{datanames}{(\code{character}) names of datasets passed to \code{data}.
-Needed when non-dataset objects are needed in the \code{env} slot.}
 }
 \description{
 Initialize \code{teal_data} object
diff --git a/man/teal_data-class.Rd b/man/teal_data-class.Rd
index ef1c1decb..d35268e77 100644
--- a/man/teal_data-class.Rd
+++ b/man/teal_data-class.Rd
@@ -36,10 +36,6 @@ Access with \code{\link[=get_warnings]{get_warnings()}}.}
 \item{\code{join_keys}}{(\code{join_keys}) object specifying joining keys for data sets in \verb{@env}.
 Access or modify with \code{\link[=join_keys]{join_keys()}}.}
 
-\item{\code{datanames}}{(\code{character}) vector of names of data sets in \verb{@env}.
-Used internally to distinguish them from auxiliary variables.
-Access or modify with \code{\link[=datanames]{datanames()}}.}
-
 \item{\code{verified}}{(\code{logical(1)}) flag signifying that code in \verb{@code} has been proven to yield contents of \verb{@env}.
 Used internally. See \code{\link[=verify]{verify()}} for more details.}
 }}
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-datanames.R b/tests/testthat/test-datanames.R
index e0c99bb63..22e169fba 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-datanames.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-datanames.R
@@ -1,128 +1,136 @@
 # get ----
-testthat::test_that("datanames returns contents of @datanames slot", {
+testthat::test_that("names returns list of objects in teal_data", {
   td <- teal_data(i = iris, m = mtcars)
-  testthat::expect_identical(datanames(td), c("i", "m"))
+  testthat::expect_identical(names(td), c("i", "m"))
 })
 
-testthat::test_that("variables not in @datanames are omitted", {
+testthat::test_that("variables with dot prefix are omitted", {
   td <- teal_data(i = iris, m = mtcars)
-  td <- within(td, f <- faithful)
-  testthat::expect_identical(datanames(td), c("i", "m"))
+  td <- within(td, .f <- faithful)
+  testthat::expect_identical(names(td), c("i", "m"))
 })
 
-# set ----
-testthat::test_that("datanames can set value of @datanames", {
-  td <- teal_data(i = iris, m = mtcars)
-  testthat::expect_identical(datanames(td), c("i", "m"))
-  datanames(td) <- "i"
-  testthat::expect_identical(datanames(td), "i")
-})
+# set ---
+testthat::describe("names<- called on teal_data", {
+  testthat::it("throws warning", {
+    td <- teal_data(i = iris, m = mtcars)
+    testthat::expect_warning(names(td) <- c("a", "b", "c"), "assignment does nothing for qenv objects")
+  })
 
-testthat::test_that("only names of existing variables are accepted", {
-  td <- teal_data(i = iris, m = mtcars)
-  testthat::expect_no_error(datanames(td) <- "i")
-  testthat::expect_error(datanames(td) <- "f", "Assertion .* failed: Must be a subset")
+  testthat::it("does not change it", {
+    td <- teal_data(i = iris, m = mtcars)
+    tdc <- td <- teal_data(i = iris, m = mtcars)
+    suppressWarnings(names(td) <- c("a", "b", "c"))
+    testthat::expect_identical(qe, qec)
+  })
 })
 
 # qenv.error support ----
-testthat::test_that("datanames supports qenv.error class", {
+testthat::test_that("names supports qenv.error class", {
   qe <- within(teal_data(), stop())
-  testthat::expect_no_error(datanames(qe))
-  testthat::expect_no_error(datanames(qe) <- "name")
+  testthat::expect_no_error(names(qe))
 })
 
-testthat::test_that("datanames called on qenv.error returns NULL", {
+testthat::test_that("names called on qenv.error returns NULL", {
   qe <- within(teal_data(), stop())
-  testthat::expect_null(datanames(qe))
+  testthat::expect_null(names(qe))
 })
 
-testthat::test_that("datanames<- called on qenv.error does not change qenv.error", {
-  qe <- within(teal_data(), stop())
-  qec <- qe
-  testthat::expect_identical(qe, qec)
+testthat::describe("names<- called on qenv.error", {
+  testthat::it("throws warning", {
+    qe <- within(teal_data(), stop())
+    testthat::expect_warning(names(qe) <- c("a", "b", "c"), "assignment does nothing for qenv.error objects")
+  })
+  testthat::test_that("does not change qenv.error", {
+    qe <- within(teal_data(), stop())
+    qec <- within(teal_data(), stop())
+    suppressWarnings(names(qe) <- c("a", "b", "c"))
+    testthat::expect_identical(qe, qec)
+  })
 })
 
 # topological_order ----
 
-testthat::test_that("datanames are set in topological order in constructor if join_keys are specified", {
+testthat::test_that("names are set in topological order in constructor if join_keys are specified", {
   data <-
     teal_data(b = data.frame(), a = data.frame(), join_keys = join_keys(join_key("a", "b", "id")))
   testthat::expect_identical(
-    datanames(data),
+    names(data),
     c("a", "b")
   )
 })
 
-testthat::test_that("datanames return parent if in constructor it was provided in join_keys and exists in env", {
-  data <-
-    teal_data(b = data.frame(), a = data.frame(), join_keys = join_keys(join_key("a", "b", "id")))
-  datanames(data) <- "b"
-  testthat::expect_identical(
-    datanames(data),
-    c("a", "b")
+testthat::test_that("names return parent if in constructor it was provided in join_keys and exists in env", {
+  data <- teal_data(
+    b = data.frame(),
+    .a = data.frame(),
+    join_keys = join_keys(join_key(".a", "b", "id"))
   )
+  testthat::expect_setequal(names(data), c(".a", "b"))
 })
 
 testthat::test_that(
-  "datanames do not return parent if in constructor it was provided in join_keys but do not exists in env",
+  "names do not return parent if in constructor it was provided in join_keys but do not exists in env",
   {
-    data <-
-      teal_data(b = data.frame(), join_keys = join_keys(join_key("a", "b", "id")))
+    data <- teal_data(b = data.frame(), join_keys = join_keys(join_key("a", "b", "id")))
     testthat::expect_identical(
-      datanames(data),
+      names(data),
       "b"
     )
   }
 )
 
-testthat::test_that("datanames return topological order of datasets once join_keys are specified", {
+testthat::test_that("names return topological order of datasets once join_keys are specified", {
   data <- within(teal_data(), {
     ADTTE <- teal.data::rADTTE # nolint: object_name.
-    iris <- iris
+    ADTR <- teal.data::rADTR # nolint: object_name.
     ADSL <- teal.data::rADSL # nolint: object_name.
   })
-  datanames(data) <- c("ADTTE", "iris", "ADSL")
   join_keys(data) <- default_cdisc_join_keys[c("ADSL", "ADTTE")]
   testthat::expect_identical(
-    datanames(data),
-    c("ADSL", "ADTTE", "iris")
+    names(data),
+    c("ADTR", "ADSL", "ADTTE")
   )
 })
 
-testthat::test_that("datanames return topological order of datasets after datanames are called after join_keys", {
+testthat::test_that("names return topological order of datasets after new objects are added after join_keys", {
   data <- within(teal_data(), {
     ADTTE <- teal.data::rADTTE # nolint: object_name.
-    iris <- iris
     ADSL <- teal.data::rADSL # nolint: object_name.
   })
 
+  testthat::expect_identical(
+    names(data),
+    c("ADSL", "ADTTE")
+  )
+
   join_keys(data) <- default_cdisc_join_keys[c("ADSL", "ADTTE")]
-  datanames(data) <- c("ADTTE", "iris", "ADSL")
+  data <- within(data, ADTR <- teal.data::rADTR) # nolint: object_name.
 
   testthat::expect_identical(
-    datanames(data),
-    c("ADSL", "ADTTE", "iris")
+    names(data),
+    c("ADTR", "ADSL", "ADTTE")
   )
 })
 
 
-testthat::test_that("datanames return parent if join_keys were provided and parent exists in env", {
+testthat::test_that("names return parent if join_keys were provided and parent exists in env", {
   data <- within(teal_data(), {
     ADTTE <- teal.data::rADTTE # nolint: object_name.
     iris <- iris
-    ADSL <- teal.data::rADSL # nolint: object_name.
+    .ADSL <- teal.data::rADSL # nolint: object_name.
   })
 
   join_keys(data) <- default_cdisc_join_keys[c("ADSL", "ADTTE")]
-  datanames(data) <- c("ADTTE", "iris")
+  names(join_keys(data)) <- c(".ADSL", "ADTTE")
 
   testthat::expect_identical(
-    datanames(data),
+    names(data),
     c("ADSL", "ADTTE", "iris")
   )
 })
 
-testthat::test_that("datanames do not return parent if join_keys were provided and parent did not exists in env", {
+testthat::test_that("names do not return parent if join_keys were provided and parent did not exists in env", {
   data <- teal_data(
     ADTTE = teal.data::rADTTE, # nolint: object_name.
     iris = iris
@@ -131,7 +139,7 @@ testthat::test_that("datanames do not return parent if join_keys were provided a
   join_keys(data) <- default_cdisc_join_keys[c("ADSL", "ADTTE")]
 
   testthat::expect_identical(
-    datanames(data),
+    names(data),
     c("ADTTE", "iris")
   )
 })
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-teal_data.R b/tests/testthat/test-teal_data.R
index 8391f72e2..e5d7ab895 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-teal_data.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-teal_data.R
@@ -21,34 +21,26 @@ testthat::test_that("teal_data allows to initialize empty teal_data with join_ke
   )
 })
 
-testthat::test_that("teal_data initializes teal_data object with @datanames taken from passed objects", {
-  testthat::expect_identical(
-    teal_data(iris = iris, mtcars = mtcars)@datanames,
-    c("iris", "mtcars")
-  )
-})
-
 testthat::test_that(
-  "teal_data initializes teal_data object without @datanames taken from join_keys if objects did not exist in env",
+  "teal_data initializes teal_data object without names taken from join_keys if objects did not exist in env",
   {
     testthat::expect_identical(
-      datanames(teal_data(join_keys = join_keys(join_key("parent", "child", "id")))),
+      names(teal_data(join_keys = join_keys(join_key("parent", "child", "id")))),
       character(0)
     )
   }
 )
 
 testthat::test_that(
-  "teal_data initializes teal_data object with @datanames taken only from passed objects and not join_keys",
+  "teal_data initializes teal_data object with names taken only from passed objects and not join_keys",
   {
     testthat::expect_identical(
-      datanames(teal_data(iris = iris, join_keys = join_keys(join_key("parent", "child", "id")))),
+      names(teal_data(iris = iris, join_keys = join_keys(join_key("parent", "child", "id")))),
       "iris"
     )
   }
 )
 
-
 testthat::test_that("teal_data returns teal_data when data passed as named list", {
   df1 <- data.frame(id = c("A", "B"), a = c(1L, 2L))
   testthat::expect_s4_class(teal_data(df1 = df1), "teal_data")
diff --git a/vignettes/join-keys.Rmd b/vignettes/join-keys.Rmd
index 9d06fed22..9ead04820 100644
--- a/vignettes/join-keys.Rmd
+++ b/vignettes/join-keys.Rmd
@@ -192,7 +192,6 @@ td_pk <- within(
   teal_data(),
   ds1 <- transform(iris, id = seq_len(nrow(iris)))
 )
-datanames(td_pk) <- "ds1"
 
 join_keys(td_pk) <- join_keys(join_key("ds1", keys = "id"))
 
@@ -209,7 +208,6 @@ td_pk <- within(
     ds3 <- data.frame(V = 5:14, N = 4)
   }
 )
-datanames(td_pk) <- c(datanames(td_pk), "ds2", "ds3")
 
 join_keys(td_pk)["ds2", "ds2"] <- c("V", "W")
 join_keys(td_pk)["ds3", "ds3"] <- c("V", "W")
@@ -239,7 +237,6 @@ td_fk <- within(
     ds3 <- data.frame(V = 5:14, N = 4)
   }
 )
-datanames(td_fk) <- c("ds1", "ds2", "ds3")
 
 join_keys(td_fk) <- join_keys(
   # Primary keys
@@ -275,7 +272,6 @@ td <- within(
     ds4 <- data.frame(V = 5:14, R = rnorm(10))
   }
 )
-datanames(td) <- c("ds1", "ds2", "ds3", "ds4")
 
 join_keys(td) <- join_keys(
   # Primary keys
diff --git a/vignettes/teal-data-reproducibility.Rmd b/vignettes/teal-data-reproducibility.Rmd
index f39d0a81b..b0b379cc9 100644
--- a/vignettes/teal-data-reproducibility.Rmd
+++ b/vignettes/teal-data-reproducibility.Rmd
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ Note that in when retrieving code for a specific dataset, the result is only the
 
 ## Tracking object dependencies
 
-Calling `get_code` with `datanames` specified initiates an analysis of the stored code, in which object dependencies are automatically discovered.
+Calling `get_code` with `names` specified initiates an analysis of the stored code, in which object dependencies are automatically discovered.
 If object `x` is created with an expression that uses object `y`, the lines that create object `y` must also be returned.
 This is quite effective when objects are created by simple assignments like `x <- foo(y)`.
 However, in rare cases discovering dependencies is impossible, _e.g._  when opening connections to databases or when objects are created by side effects (functions acting on their calling environment implicitly rather than returning a value that is then assigned).
diff --git a/vignettes/teal-data.Rmd b/vignettes/teal-data.Rmd
index 687b136d9..2288a7f5b 100644
--- a/vignettes/teal-data.Rmd
+++ b/vignettes/teal-data.Rmd
@@ -40,9 +40,8 @@ my_data[["data1"]]
 # get reproducible code
 get_code(my_data)
 
-# get or set datanames
-datanames(my_data) <- c("data1", "data2")
-datanames(my_data)
+# get datanames
+names(my_data)
 
 # print
 print(my_data)
@@ -55,7 +54,7 @@ A `teal_data` object keeps the following information:
 
 - `env` - an environment containing data.
 - `code` - a string containing code to reproduce `env` (details in [reproducibility](teal-data-reproducibility.html)).
-- `datanames` - a character vector listing objects of interest to `teal` modules (details in [this `teal` vignette](https://insightsengineering.github.io/teal/latest-tag/articles/including-data-in-teal-applications.html)).
+- `names` - a character vector listing objects of interest to `teal` modules (details in [this `teal` vignette](https://insightsengineering.github.io/teal/latest-tag/articles/including-data-in-teal-applications.html)).
 - `join_keys` - a `join_keys` object defining relationships between datasets (details in [Join Keys](join-keys.html)).
 
 ### Reproducibility
@@ -71,7 +70,6 @@ my_data <- within(my_data, data$id <- seq_len(nrow(data)))
 my_data # is verified
 ```
 
-
 ### Relational data models
 
 The `teal_data` class supports relational data.
@@ -94,3 +92,18 @@ join_keys(my_data) <- join_keys(
 
 join_keys(my_data)
 ```
+
+### Hidden objects
+
+An object is hidden in `teal_data` if its name starts with a dot (`.`).
+This can be used to pass auxiliary objects / function in the `teal_data` instance, without being visible in the `teal` summary and filter panel.
+
+```{r}
+my_data <- teal_data()
+my_data <- within(my_data, {
+  data <- data.frame(id = 1:10, x = 11:20)
+  .data2 <- data.frame(id = 1:20, data_id = c(1:10, 1:10), y = 21:30)
+})
+
+names(my_data)
+```