Matlab turns column header text into allowable variable names by using the underscore to fill in spaces and appending suffix integers to multiple variables of the same name if those exist. Using the variable names thus created works the same as you've shown for simple variables.
Alternatively, don't read the titles but let default to the 'VarN' syntax but return the header line as the description line that is in the Properties stuct. You can use text search operations on that cell array to find any particular string location and retrieve the assocated column/variable by name or column index.
Asking user for input from dropdown listbox of that list would be simple as one way...
