Python how to find exact match in a list and not just contained in a word within list

You can use in directly on the list.

Ex:

mylist = ['cathrine', 'joey', 'bobby', 'fredrick']

if 'cat' in mylist:
    print 'Yes it is in list'
#Empty


if 'joey' in mylist:
    print 'Yes it is in list'
#Yes it is in list

You can use in with if else conditional operator

In [43]: mylist = ['cathrine', 'joey', 'bobby', 'fredrick']

In [44]: 'yes in list ' if 'cat' in mylist else 'not in list'
Out[44]: 'not in list'

@Rakesh Has given a answer to archive you task, This is just to make a correction to your statement.

 trying to use "if 'cat' == names:' does't seem to work

actually 'cat' == names this returns false the thing is your are missing the else part to catch that

mylist = ['cathrine', 'joey', 'bobby', 'fredrick']

for names in mylist:
    if 'cat' == names:
        print ('Yes it is in list')
    else:
        print('not in list')

You can use == instead of in

mylist = ['cathrine', 'joey', 'bobby', 'fredrick']

for names in mylist:
    if names =='cat' :
        print('Matched')
    else:
        print('Not Matched')

I think it will work!