James is the boy in the fictional love triangle depicted in Taylor Swift's “August.”
The song is one part of a connected trio on Folklore. “Cardigan” presents Betty's perspective, “Betty” presents James's perspective, and “August” follows the unnamed girl involved in James's summer romance.
James is already connected to Betty, but he becomes romantically involved with the narrator of “August.” The relationship is temporary and uncertain, leaving the narrator with an unrequited and nostalgic memory of the summer.
Listeners sometimes call the narrator Augustine or Augusta, names Swift discussed informally, but those names refer to the girl—not the boy. James is the consistently named male character in the triangle.