Does a name have to be identical to be refused?

No. The USPTO refuses a mark that is likely to be confused with an existing one, and that test looks at the overall impression: how the names look, how they sound and what they mean, together with how related the goods are. A close spelling, a sound-alike, a plural, the same words joined into one, or a name built on the same main word can all be cited against a new application. That is why LogoVerify checks the forms an examiner weighs, not only the exact name. (General information, not legal advice.)