What's in a Name?

"My name is Bond...James Bond"

Until now, I'd never quite understand why the name James was the same as the Greek Iakovos. How did one derive from the other, especially as Greek friends always insist that  Jimmy is the same as Dimitri, James the same as Demetrios? There is in fact no etymological connection between Demetrios and James.

We all know that the Jacobean period refers to the reign of King James I.

But how was one supposed to know that James comes from an Old French variant of a late Latin name, Iacomus, which is itself apparently  a dialect variant of Iacobus (New Testament Greek Iakobos; Hebrew Yaaqov)? Iacobus-Iacombus-Iacobus, no need to explain the subtle sound shifts en route to James.

So Mr Bond could have introduced himself as Giacomo, Iago, or indeed as Jim, Jimmy, Jimi, Jamie or Jimbo.

Not quite the same thing. Less gravitas:

"My name is Bond...Jimmy Bond."

Ultimately, I suppose Mr Bond owed his name to Saint James the Apostle and martyr, son of Zebedee and Salome.

Or maybe it's just a good Scottish name.