In Taylor Swift’s “august,” James is described as being 17.
The age helps establish the song’s story as a teenage summer romance rather than an adult relationship. The narrator remembers school, summer, and uncertain plans while hoping that James will call and make the connection lasting.
James is also a character in the connected Folklore songs “cardigan” and “betty.” In the broader storyline, he becomes involved with the unnamed narrator of “august” while already connected to Betty, then eventually returns to Betty.
The song’s narrator is never given a definitive name in the lyrics. Swift said she privately thought of the character with names such as Augusta or Augustine, but those are not official names stated in the song. James, by contrast, is explicitly identified in the Folklore narrative.