The boy in Taylor Swift’s “august” storyline is named James.
“august” is part of a three-song narrative on Folklore involving James, Betty, and an unnamed girl often associated with the name Augustine. In “august,” the narrator describes a brief summer relationship with James from her own perspective.
The related song “cardigan” presents Betty’s viewpoint, while “betty” is narrated from James’s perspective. Together, the tracks show how the same fictional relationship can be interpreted through different voices.
The character is not presented as a confirmed real person from Swift’s life. Swift described Folklore’s stories as fictional narratives and imagined characters, which is why the song’s storyline should not be treated as a direct autobiography.