Asher Jonas' best friend. Asher is a cheerful, friendly boy who makes a game out of everything. At the Ceremony of Twelve, he is assigned to be Assistant Director of Recreation.
Fiona One of Jonas' good friends. Fiona is a very pretty girl who is sensitive, intelligent, quiet, and polite. She is assigned to be a Caretaker of the Old.
Larissa An elderly woman who lives in the House of the Old. Jonas bathes her when he volunteers at the House of the Old. While being bathed, she tells Jonas about two elderly people who have been released recently.
Chief Elder The leader of the community.
Fritz Fritz lives in the dwelling next door to Jonas'. He is an awkward child who is always getting into trouble. Fritz turns nine years old at the December Ceremony and receives his own bicycle, as all Nines do.
Caleb The first Caleb died when he was four years old by falling into the river that runs near the community. During the December Ceremony, the couple who were given the first Caleb receive a replacement child, also named Caleb.
Rosemary Rosemary was The Giver's daughter. Selected ten years earlier to become the new Receiver of Memory, she began training with The Giver, but after only five weeks, she asked to be released from the community.
