Declaration design preference: type or name first

As a matter of preference the declarations of some languages put the
type before the name such as

   int x = 2;

where others put the variable name before the type as in

   x: integer := 2;

I can see advantages to each and would be interested to know what
other language designers and programmers (i.e. the customers of
language designers) prefer.

Any offers?



Also, my current design, has gone through some iterations of minor
detail and currently has the ability to allow either the name or the
type first. I'd be interested to know what people think of this
flexibility. Is it a good thing? Or does it simply make the code too
hard to read? If so which option would you say should be enforced?

Some examples just to illustrate the point, not in a final form:

Name first
   var fred <integer>
   var freda <integer> = 0
   var char_value <integer 8>
   var ages <array (0 ... 150) of <integer>>
   var x, y = 2, z <float>

Type first
   var <integer> fred
   var <integer> freda = 0
   var <integer 8> char_value
   var <array (0 ... 150) of <integer>> ages
   var <float> x, y = 2, z

The last one having multiple names looks a bit odd with the names
first, perhaps. However, I think it could still be compiled.

--
James