The boy in Taylor Swift’s “August” love triangle is named James.
James is the teenage character involved with Betty before becoming romantically connected with the unnamed narrator of “August.” The song presents the narrator’s perspective as she experiences a short summer romance with him.
The story continues across three Folklore songs. “Cardigan” is associated with Betty’s viewpoint, “Betty” presents James’s perspective, and “August” follows the girl who falls for him during the summer.
Swift created the storyline as fiction rather than as a direct account of her personal life. The narrator knows that James is already involved with someone else, which gives the song its mixture of longing, hope, and eventual loss.