James
Definition
A classic masculine given name of Hebrew origin, derived from Jacob, meaning 'supplanter'.
A ubiquitous name in English-speaking history, shared by monarchs, apostles, and inevitably, that one guy from HR who eats fish in the office breakroom.
A common noun used occasionally in literary or slang contexts to refer to a generic man or a specific instrument.
Examples
If you throw a pebble in a crowd, you will likely hit a James, most of whom are just trying to live their lives without being confused for a LeBron.
He possessed the confidence of a man named James, despite having the actual job performance of a malfunctioning toaster.
James has become such a standard name that it essentially acts as the default setting for male protagonists in nineteenth-century novels.
The sheer versatility of the name James is remarkable; it fits a king, a butler, and the guy who accidentally replies all to the company-wide layoff email.