Jemmy

Jemmy is an English diminutive of James, historically used for men and occasionally independently. James is the English form of Jacob, from Hebrew Yaʿaqov. Genesis links Jacob’s name with “heel,” because he is born holding Esau’s heel, and later wordplay suggests “supplanter.” Jemmy was especially familiar in Britain and Ireland in earlier centuries but is now uncommon. Reliable prominent exact-name modern bearers are limited, so the traditional James connection is the clearest history.