diff --git a/build.sbt b/build.sbt
index cb8d11d..d31d8ad 100644
--- a/build.sbt
+++ b/build.sbt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-lazy val tscfgVersion = setVersion("0.8.4")
+lazy val tscfgVersion = setVersion("0.9.0")
 
 organization := "com.github.carueda"
 name := "tscfg"
diff --git a/changelog.md b/changelog.md
index 719df4d..a2d35a7 100644
--- a/changelog.md
+++ b/changelog.md
@@ -1,3 +1,11 @@
+2018-02-11 - 0.9.0
+
+- resolve #30 "scala: option to use back ticks"
+- Adjustments regarding keys with $ and quoted strings:
+    - key containing $ is left alone (even if it's quoted).
+      This mainly due to Config restrictions on keys involving $ 
+    - otherwise, the key is unquoted (if quoted of course) 
+
 2018-02-11 - 0.8.4
 
 - internal: use scala 2.12 (but cross compile to 2.11 too) 
diff --git a/src/main/resources/application.conf b/src/main/resources/application.conf
index e61c4c8..d9a15b8 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/application.conf
+++ b/src/main/resources/application.conf
@@ -1 +1 @@
-tscfg.version = 0.8.4
+tscfg.version = 0.9.0
diff --git a/src/main/scala/tscfg/Main.scala b/src/main/scala/tscfg/Main.scala
index c0b2a6b..ea55edc 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/tscfg/Main.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/tscfg/Main.scala
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ object Main {
        |  --dd <destDir>                                         ($defaultDestDir)
        |  --j7                  generate code for java <= 7      (8)
        |  --scala               generate scala code              (java)
+       |  --scala:`             use backsticks                   (false)
        |  --java                generate java code               (the default)
        |  --tpl <filename>      generate config template         (no default)
        |  --tpl.ind <string>    template indentation string      ("${templateOpts.indent}")
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ object Main {
                          destDir: String = defaultDestDir,
                          j7: Boolean = false,
                          language: String = "java",
+                         useBacksticks: Boolean = false,
                          tplFilename: Option[String] = None
                         )
 
@@ -86,6 +88,9 @@ object Main {
         case "--scala" :: rest =>
           traverseList(rest, opts.copy(language = "scala"))
 
+        case "--scala:`" :: rest =>
+          traverseList(rest, opts.copy(useBacksticks = true))
+
         case "--java" :: rest =>
           traverseList(rest, opts.copy(language = "java"))
 
@@ -127,7 +132,8 @@ object Main {
     val destFile = new File(destFilename)
     val out = new PrintWriter(destFile)
 
-    val genOpts = GenOpts(opts.packageName, opts.className, opts.j7)
+    val genOpts = GenOpts(opts.packageName, opts.className, opts.j7,
+                          useBacksticks = opts.useBacksticks)
 
     println(s"parsing: $inputFilename")
     val source = io.Source.fromFile(new File(inputFilename)).mkString.trim
diff --git a/src/main/scala/tscfg/ModelBuilder.scala b/src/main/scala/tscfg/ModelBuilder.scala
index 0f0943c..05f9417 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/tscfg/ModelBuilder.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/tscfg/ModelBuilder.scala
@@ -73,7 +73,11 @@ class ModelBuilder {
       val optFromComments = comments.exists(_.trim.startsWith("@optional"))
       val commentsOpt = if (comments.isEmpty) None else Some(comments.mkString("\n"))
 
-      name -> model.AnnType(childType,
+      // per Lightbend Config restrictions involving $, leave the key alone if
+      // contains $, otherwise unquote the key in case is quoted.
+      val adjName = if (name.contains("$")) name else name.replaceAll("^\"|\"$", "")
+
+      adjName -> model.AnnType(childType,
         optional      = optional || optFromComments,
         default       = default,
         comments      = commentsOpt
diff --git a/src/main/scala/tscfg/generators/Generator.scala b/src/main/scala/tscfg/generators/Generator.scala
index 6abae4f..152a06e 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/tscfg/generators/Generator.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/tscfg/generators/Generator.scala
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ abstract class Generator(genOpts: GenOpts) {
   */
 case class GenOpts(packageName: String,
                    className: String,
-                   j7: Boolean
+                   j7: Boolean,
+                   useBacksticks: Boolean = false
                   )
 
 case class GenResult(code: String = "?",
diff --git a/src/main/scala/tscfg/generators/scala/ScalaGen.scala b/src/main/scala/tscfg/generators/scala/ScalaGen.scala
index 41ab117..d4c6423 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/tscfg/generators/scala/ScalaGen.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/tscfg/generators/scala/ScalaGen.scala
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package tscfg.generators.scala
 
 import tscfg.{ModelBuilder, model}
-import tscfg.generators.scala.scalaUtil.scalaIdentifier
 import tscfg.generators._
 import tscfg.model._
 import tscfg.util.escapeString
@@ -14,6 +13,9 @@ class ScalaGen(genOpts: GenOpts) extends Generator(genOpts) {
   val getter = Getter(hasPath, accessors, methodNames)
   import methodNames._
 
+  val scalaUtil: ScalaUtil = new ScalaUtil(useBacksticks = genOpts.useBacksticks)
+  import scalaUtil.{scalaIdentifier, getClassName}
+
   def generate(objectType: ObjectType): GenResult = {
     genResults = GenResult()
 
@@ -53,11 +55,10 @@ class ScalaGen(genOpts: GenOpts) extends Generator(genOpts) {
     def padId(id: String) = id + (" " * (padScalaIdLength - id.length))
 
     val results = symbols.map { symbol ⇒
-      val scalaId = scalaIdentifier(symbol)
       val a = ot.members(symbol)
       val res = generate(a.t,
         classNamesPrefix = className+"." :: classNamesPrefix,
-        className = scalaUtil.getClassName(symbol)
+        className = getClassName(symbol)
       )
       (symbol, res)
     }
@@ -158,7 +159,10 @@ object ScalaGen {
   import tscfg.util
 
   // $COVERAGE-OFF$
-  def generate(filename: String, showOut: Boolean = false): GenResult = {
+  def generate(filename: String,
+               showOut: Boolean = false,
+               useBacksticks: Boolean = false
+              ): GenResult = {
     val file = new File("src/main/tscfg/" + filename)
     val source = io.Source.fromFile(file).mkString.trim
 
@@ -182,7 +186,8 @@ object ScalaGen {
       }
     }
 
-    val genOpts = GenOpts("tscfg.example", className, j7 = false)
+    val genOpts = GenOpts("tscfg.example", className, j7 = false,
+                          useBacksticks = useBacksticks)
 
     val generator = new ScalaGen(genOpts)
 
@@ -440,7 +445,7 @@ private[scala] class Accessors {
     val methodDef =
       s"""
          |private def $methodName(cl:com.typesafe.config.ConfigList): scala.List[$scalaType] = {
-         |  import scala.collection.JavaConverters._  
+         |  import scala.collection.JavaConverters._
          |  cl.asScala.map(cv => $elem).toList
          |}""".stripMargin.trim
     (methodName, methodDef)
diff --git a/src/main/scala/tscfg/generators/scala/ScalaUtil.scala b/src/main/scala/tscfg/generators/scala/ScalaUtil.scala
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..32c6fa2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/scala/tscfg/generators/scala/ScalaUtil.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+package tscfg.generators.scala
+
+import tscfg.generators.java.javaUtil
+import tscfg.util
+
+/**
+  * By default [[scalaIdentifier]] uses underscores as needed for various cases
+  * that need translation of the given identifier to make it valid Scala.
+  * Similarly, [[getClassName]] also does some related logic.
+  *
+  * With this flag set to true, both methods will change their logic to uses
+  * backsticks instead of replacing or removing the characters that would
+  * make the resulting identifiers invalid.
+  *
+  * @param useBacksticks  False by default
+  */
+class ScalaUtil(useBacksticks: Boolean = false) {
+  import ScalaUtil._
+
+  /**
+    * Returns a valid scala identifier from the given symbol:
+    *
+    * - encloses the symbol in backticks if the symbol is a scala reserved word;
+    * - appends an underscore if the symbol corresponds to a no-arg method in scope;
+    * - otherwise:
+    *   - returns symbol if it is a valid java identifier
+    *   - otherwise:
+    * if useBacksticks is true, enclose symbol in backsticks
+    * otherwise, returns `javaGenerator.javaIdentifier(symbol)`
+    */
+  def scalaIdentifier(symbol: String): String = {
+    if (scalaReservedWords.contains(symbol)) "`" + symbol + "`"
+    else if (noArgMethodInScope.contains(symbol)) symbol + "_"
+    else if (javaUtil.isJavaIdentifier(symbol)) symbol
+    else if (useBacksticks) "`" + symbol + "`"
+    else javaUtil.javaIdentifier(symbol)
+  }
+
+  /**
+    * Returns a class name from the given symbol.
+    * If useBacksticks:
+    * This is basically capitalizing the first character that
+    * can be capitalized. If none, then a `U` is prepended.
+    * Otherwise:
+    * Since underscores are specially used in generated code,
+    * this method camelizes the symbol in case of any underscores.
+    */
+  def getClassName(symbol: String): String = {
+    if (useBacksticks) {
+      val scalaId = scalaIdentifier(symbol)
+      val search = scalaId.zipWithIndex.find { case (c, _) ⇒ c.toUpper != c }
+      search match {
+        case Some((c, index)) ⇒
+          scalaId.substring(0, index) + c.toUpper + scalaId.substring(index + 1)
+
+        case None ⇒
+          if (scalaId.head == '`')
+            "`U" + scalaId.substring(1)
+          else
+            "U" + scalaId
+      }
+    }
+    else { // preserve behavior until v0.8.4
+      // regular javaUtil.javaIdentifier as it might generate underscores:
+      val id = javaUtil.javaIdentifier(symbol)
+      // note: not scalaIdentifier because we are going to camelize anyway
+      val parts = id.split("_")
+      val name = parts.map(util.upperFirst).mkString
+      if (name.nonEmpty) scalaIdentifier(name)
+      else "U" + id.count(_ == '_') // named based on # of underscores ;)
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+object ScalaUtil {
+  /**
+    * The ones from Sect 1.1 of the Scala Language Spec, v2.9
+    * plus `_`
+    */
+  val scalaReservedWords: List[String] = List(
+    "_",
+    "abstract", "case",     "catch",   "class",   "def",
+    "do",       "else",     "extends", "false",   "final",
+    "finally",  "for",      "forSome", "if",      "implicit",
+    "import",   "lazy",     "match",   "new",     "null",
+    "object",   "override", "package", "private", "protected",
+    "return",   "sealed",   "super",   "this",    "throw",
+    "trait",    "try",      "true",    "type",    "val",
+    "var",      "while",    "with",    "yield"
+  )
+
+  val noArgMethodInScope: List[String] = List(
+      "clone",
+      "finalize",
+      "getClass",
+      "notify",
+      "notifyAll",
+      "toString",
+      "wait"
+  )
+}
diff --git a/src/main/scala/tscfg/generators/scala/scalaUtil.scala b/src/main/scala/tscfg/generators/scala/scalaUtil.scala
deleted file mode 100644
index 2848e65..0000000
--- a/src/main/scala/tscfg/generators/scala/scalaUtil.scala
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,63 +0,0 @@
-package tscfg.generators.scala
-
-import tscfg.generators.java.javaUtil
-import tscfg.util
-
-object scalaUtil {
-
-  /**
-    * Returns a valid scala identifier from the given symbol:
-    *
-    * - encloses the symbol in backticks if the symbol is a scala reserved word;
-    * - appends an underscore if the symbol corresponds to a no-arg method in scope;
-    * - otherwise, returns symbol if it is a valid java identifier
-    * - otherwise, returns `javaGenerator.javaIdentifier(symbol)`
-    */
-  def scalaIdentifier(symbol: String): String = {
-    if (scalaReservedWords.contains(symbol)) "`" + symbol + "`"
-    else if (noArgMethodInScope.contains(symbol)) symbol + "_"
-    else if (javaUtil.isJavaIdentifier(symbol)) symbol
-    else javaUtil.javaIdentifier(symbol)
-  }
-
-  /**
-    * Returns a class name from the given symbol.
-    * Since underscores are specially used in generated code,
-    * this method camelizes the symbol in case of any underscores.
-    */
-  def getClassName(symbol: String): String = {
-    // regular javaUtil.javaIdentifier as it might generate underscores:
-    val id = javaUtil.javaIdentifier(symbol)
-    // note: not scalaIdentifier because we are going to camelize anyway
-    val parts = id.split("_")
-    val name = parts.map(util.upperFirst).mkString
-    if (name.nonEmpty) scalaIdentifier(name)
-    else "U" + id.count(_ == '_') // named based on # of underscores ;)
-  }
-
-  /**
-    * The ones from Sect 1.1 of the Scala Language Spec, v2.9
-    * plus `_`
-    */
-  val scalaReservedWords: List[String] = List(
-    "_",
-    "abstract", "case",     "catch",   "class",   "def",
-    "do",       "else",     "extends", "false",   "final",
-    "finally",  "for",      "forSome", "if",      "implicit",
-    "import",   "lazy",     "match",   "new",     "null",
-    "object",   "override", "package", "private", "protected",
-    "return",   "sealed",   "super",   "this",    "throw",
-    "trait",    "try",      "true",    "type",    "val",
-    "var",      "while",    "with",    "yield"
-  )
-
-  val noArgMethodInScope: List[String] = List(
-      "clone",
-      "finalize",
-      "getClass",
-      "notify",
-      "notifyAll",
-      "toString",
-      "wait"
-  )
-}
diff --git a/src/main/scala/tscfg/model.scala b/src/main/scala/tscfg/model.scala
index ea847d0..4697889 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/tscfg/model.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/tscfg/model.scala
@@ -74,7 +74,14 @@ object model {
     def apply(elems: (String, AnnType)*): ObjectType = {
       val x = elems.groupBy(_._1).mapValues(_.length).filter(_._2 > 1)
       if (x.nonEmpty) throw new RuntimeException(s"key repeated in object: ${x.head}")
-      ObjectType(Map(elems : _*))
+
+      val noQuotes = elems map { case (k, v) ⇒
+        // per Lightbend Config restrictions involving $, leave the key alone if
+        // contains $, otherwise unquote the key in case is quoted.
+        val adjName = if (k.contains("$")) k else k.replaceAll("^\"|\"$", "")
+        adjName.replaceAll("^\"|\"$", "") -> v
+      }
+      ObjectType(Map(noQuotes : _*))
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/src/main/tscfg/example/issue30.spec.conf b/src/main/tscfg/example/issue30.spec.conf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6eb70fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/tscfg/example/issue30.spec.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+foo-object {
+  bar-baz: string
+  0: string
+}
+"other#stuff": int
diff --git a/src/test/scala/tscfg/generators/java/JavaMainSpec.scala b/src/test/scala/tscfg/generators/java/JavaMainSpec.scala
index 15dc940..3e2ad36 100644
--- a/src/test/scala/tscfg/generators/java/JavaMainSpec.scala
+++ b/src/test/scala/tscfg/generators/java/JavaMainSpec.scala
@@ -299,12 +299,12 @@ class JavaMainSpec extends Specification {
   }
 
   "issue19" should {
-    """replace leading and trailing " with _""" in {
+    """put underscores for key having $""" in {
       val r = JavaGen.generate("example/issue19.spec.conf")
       r.classNames === Set("JavaIssue19Cfg")
       r.fields === Map(
-        "_do_log_"  → "boolean",
-        "_$_foo_"   → "java.lang.String"
+        "do_log"  → "boolean",
+        "_$_foo_" → "java.lang.String"
       )
     }
 
@@ -315,8 +315,8 @@ class JavaMainSpec extends Specification {
           |"$_foo"  : some string
         """.stripMargin
       ))
-      c._do_log_  === true
-      c._$_foo_   === "some string"
+      c.do_log  === true
+      c._$_foo_ === "some string"
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/src/test/scala/tscfg/generators/scala/ScalaMainSpec.scala b/src/test/scala/tscfg/generators/scala/ScalaMainSpec.scala
index b863589..f31c5c7 100644
--- a/src/test/scala/tscfg/generators/scala/ScalaMainSpec.scala
+++ b/src/test/scala/tscfg/generators/scala/ScalaMainSpec.scala
@@ -303,12 +303,12 @@ class ScalaMainSpec extends Specification {
   }
 
   "issue19" should {
-    """replace leading and trailing " with _""" in {
+    """put underscores for key having $""" in {
       val r = ScalaGen.generate("example/issue19.spec.conf")
       r.classNames === Set("ScalaIssue19Cfg")
       r.fields === Map(
-        "_do_log_"  → "scala.Boolean",
-        "_$_foo_"   → "java.lang.String"
+        "do_log"  → "scala.Boolean",
+        "_$_foo_" → "java.lang.String"
       )
     }
 
@@ -319,8 +319,8 @@ class ScalaMainSpec extends Specification {
           |"$_foo"  : some string
         """.stripMargin
       ))
-      c._do_log_  === true
-      c._$_foo_   === "some string"
+      c.do_log  === true
+      c._$_foo_ === "some string"
     }
   }
 
@@ -405,4 +405,18 @@ class ScalaMainSpec extends Specification {
         List(16*1000))
     }
   }
+
+  "issue30" should {
+    "generate as indicated for useBacksticks" in {
+      val r = ScalaGen.generate("example/issue30.spec.conf",
+                                useBacksticks = true)
+
+      r.classNames === Set("ScalaIssue30Cfg", "`Foo-object`")
+      r.fields.size === 4
+      r.fields("`foo-object`" ) === "ScalaIssue30Cfg.`Foo-object`"
+      r.fields("`bar-baz`"    ) === "java.lang.String"
+      r.fields("`0`"          ) === "java.lang.String"
+      r.fields("`other#stuff`") === "scala.Int"
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/test/scala/tscfg/scalaIdentifierSpec.scala b/src/test/scala/tscfg/scalaIdentifierSpec.scala
index c448b76..f791e33 100644
--- a/src/test/scala/tscfg/scalaIdentifierSpec.scala
+++ b/src/test/scala/tscfg/scalaIdentifierSpec.scala
@@ -2,12 +2,17 @@ package tscfg
 
 import org.specs2.mutable.Specification
 import org.specs2.specification.core.Fragments
-import tscfg.generators.scala.scalaUtil.{scalaReservedWords, scalaIdentifier}
+import tscfg.generators.scala.ScalaUtil
+import tscfg.generators.scala.ScalaUtil.scalaReservedWords
+
 import scala.util.Random
 
 object scalaIdentifierSpec extends Specification {
 
   """scalaIdentifier""" should {
+    val scalaUtil: ScalaUtil = new ScalaUtil()
+    import scalaUtil.scalaIdentifier
+
 
     List("foo", "bar_3", "$baz").foldLeft(Fragments.empty) { (res, id) =>
       res.append(s"""keep valid identifier "$id"""" in {
@@ -32,4 +37,21 @@ object scalaIdentifierSpec extends Specification {
       scalaIdentifier("21") must_== "_21"
     }
   }
+
+  """scalaIdentifier with useBacksticks=true""" should {
+    val scalaUtil: ScalaUtil = new ScalaUtil(useBacksticks = true)
+    import scalaUtil.scalaIdentifier
+
+    List("foo-bar", "foo:bar", "foo#bar").foldLeft(Fragments.empty) { (res, id) =>
+      res.append(s"""put non scala id with backsticks: "$id" -> "`$id`"""" in {
+        scalaIdentifier(id) must_== s"`$id`"
+      })
+    }
+
+    List("0", "1", "3").foldLeft(Fragments.empty) { (res, id) =>
+      res.append(s"""put literal with backsticks: "$id" -> "`$id`"""" in {
+        scalaIdentifier(id) must_== s"`$id`"
+      })
+    }
+  }
 }