I'm in my 40's, live in the U.S. and have known scores of
James /
Jim / Jimmys. I couldn't begin to keep count. Each and everyone was the nicest guy. I don't know what it is about that name, but it brings out the best in men. :-) My favorite nns are
Jamie and
Jem, and possibly
Jay.
James is from
Jacob. It took me forever to work out how that could be. But I finally got it:
Jacob -->
Jacobus (Latin) --> Jacomus (late Latin) -->
James (2 syllables "JAH-mus" or "JAY-mus") -->
James ("jaymz").
I love
James so much I've forgotten the meaning. Oh. Supplanter. Well, no. That sounds like a not-nice person. It definitely doesn't go with my picture of a
James.