Algernon Moncrieff- The nephew of Lady and Bracknell, cousin of Gwendolen Fairfax, and friend of John, who he knows as Ernest, in London. He, like John Worthing, has a "bunbury," which is a fictional friend that is used as an excuse to escape from one's own social obligations.
Gwendolen Fairfax- Cousin of Alergnon, daughter of Lady Bracknell and love interest of John Worthing, who she only knows as Ernest.
Lady Bracknell- Algernon's Aunt, Mother of Gwendolen Fairfax. Having married well herself, she spends the play seeing that Gwendolen marries well also.
Cecily Cardew- Granddaughter of the man who found and adopted John Worthington at a train station during infancy. She now lives with John, "Jack", Worthington in Hertfordshire. Her fascination with evil causes her to fall in love with Jack's fictional brother, Ernest, just from the way he talks about him.
Miss Prism- Cecily's caretaker in Hertfordshire. She is in charge of Cecily's education and disapproves of John's "brother," Ernest.
Reverend Canon Chasuble- Priest on John's estate, whom both John and Algernon ask to christen them.
Merriman- Butler on the John's Hertfordshire estate.
Lane- Algernon's servant. He is the only person who knows about Algernon's double life in the beginning of the play.
