The earliest reference to St James Street, off the Antrim Road (known until 1903 as Duncairn Street), occurs in September 1872.
The street was almost certainly named after nearby St James' Church (Church of Ireland), situated at the corner of Duncairn Street and Cliftonville Road. The church was consecrated on Thursday 2 March 1871, and details of the ceremony were reported in the Belfast Morning News of 3 March 1871.