Jonas is an eleven-year-old boy living in a highly structured, orderly community. He is perceptive and intelligent, possessing unusual pale eyes. As he approaches his twelfth birthday, he awaits his lifelong job assignment. He occasionally experiences strange sensory flashes, such as seeing an apple temporarily change appearance, which sets him apart from his peers in a society that enforces uniformity.

The Giver is an older man who holds the title of Receiver of Memory for the community. He possesses pale eyes similar to Jonas's and lives in relative isolation in the Annex. His role requires him to hold the memories of the entire world, a burden that causes him extreme physical and emotional exhaustion. He is tasked with transmitting this historical knowledge to his chosen successor.

Rosemary is a young girl from the community's past who was selected to be the Receiver of Memory ten years prior to Jonas. Like Jonas and The Giver, she possessed unusual pale eyes and a sharp intelligence. Her training ended in failure, leading her to apply for release and causing her name to be permanently forbidden in the community.

Jonas's parents are the assigned heads of his family unit. His mother holds a prominent position at the Department of Justice, where she enforces rules and values community status. His father is a Nurturer, responsible for the physical care of the community's infants. They both strictly adhere to the community's guidelines regarding language, behavior, and emotional regulation.

Lily is Jonas's younger sister, an energetic seven-year-old approaching her eighth birthday. She is talkative and occasionally blunt, sometimes pointing out things the community considers impolite to mention. She shows an early interest in the newchildren her father brings home from the Nurturing Center.

Gabriel is a newchild at the Nurturing Center who struggles to meet the community's developmental milestones. He fails to grow at the expected rate and cries frequently at night. He shares the same unusual pale eyes as Jonas and is granted a temporary reprieve from release when Jonas's father takes him in for evening care.

Fiona is an eleven-year-old girl in Jonas's peer group. She is a gentle girl who shows a natural aptitude for caretaking environments, particularly enjoying her volunteer hours at the House of the Old. She is the subject of Jonas's first reported Stirrings.

Asher is Jonas's closest peer, known for his cheerful and fun-loving personality. He frequently speaks too fast, mixing up words and requiring public apologies for his lack of precise language. Despite his clumsy nature, he is a well-liked member of the community awaiting his adult assignment.

The Chief Elder is the elected leader of the community, serving alongside the Committee of Elders. They are responsible for making all significant decisions, from matching spouses to assigning jobs at the Ceremony of Twelve. They value order, conformity, and the smooth functioning of society above all else.

The Speaker is the disembodied voice that makes public announcements and issues subtle reprimands over the community's loudspeaker system. The voice enforces rules, reminds citizens of their duties, and alerts the population to any deviations from routine.

Larissa is an elderly woman residing in the House of the Old. She enjoys the company of the youth volunteers and freely gossips about the recent release ceremonies of her peers, lacking any deep understanding of what release truly means.

Roberto is an elderly man whose life is celebrated at the House of the Old before his release. He was a respected instructor and a family man, viewed as having lived a highly successful life.

Caleb is a newchild given to a family to replace their original four-year-old son of the same name, who drowned in the river. His arrival marks the community's efficient but emotionless way of dealing with loss through replacement.

Edna was a Birthmother whose recent release was less celebrated than others because her assigned role lacked high status. Her life details reflect the community's subtle social hierarchy.