diff --git a/esphome/core/entity_helpers.py b/esphome/core/entity_helpers.py
index 447c894495..e1b2a8264b 100644
--- a/esphome/core/entity_helpers.py
+++ b/esphome/core/entity_helpers.py
@@ -238,12 +238,12 @@ def entity_duplicate_validator(platform: str) -> Callable[[ConfigType], ConfigTy
 
             # Show both original names and their ASCII-only versions if they differ
             sanitized_msg = ""
-            if entity_name != name_key or existing_name != name_key:
+            if entity_name != existing_name:
                 sanitized_msg = (
                     f"\n  Original names: '{entity_name}' and '{existing_name}'"
                     f"\n  Both convert to ASCII ID: '{name_key}'"
                     "\n  To fix: Add unique ASCII characters (e.g., '1', '2', or 'A', 'B')"
-                    "\n           to distinguish them"
+                    "\n          to distinguish them"
                 )
 
             raise cv.Invalid(
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/core/test_entity_helpers.py b/tests/unit_tests/core/test_entity_helpers.py
index 005728dca8..9ba5367413 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/core/test_entity_helpers.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/core/test_entity_helpers.py
@@ -730,3 +730,23 @@ def test_entity_duplicate_validator_non_ascii_names() -> None:
         ),
     ):
         validator(config2)
+
+
+def test_entity_duplicate_validator_same_name_no_enhanced_message() -> None:
+    """Test that identical names don't show the enhanced message."""
+    # Create validator for sensor platform
+    validator = entity_duplicate_validator("sensor")
+
+    # First entity should pass
+    config1 = {CONF_NAME: "Temperature"}
+    validated1 = validator(config1)
+    assert validated1 == config1
+
+    # Second entity with exact same name should fail without enhanced message
+    config2 = {CONF_NAME: "Temperature"}
+    with pytest.raises(
+        Invalid,
+        match=r"Duplicate sensor entity with name 'Temperature' found.*"
+        r"Each entity on a device must have a unique name within its platform\.$",
+    ):
+        validator(config2)