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- RALPH NICKLEBY, JR.: Godfrey’s son who becomes obsessed with money.
- MRS. NICKLEBY: the foolish wife of Nicholas Nickleby, Sr.
- NICHOLAS NICKLEBY, JR. (MR. JOHNSON): Son of Nicholas, Sr., who is nineteen at the beginning of the story
- KATE NICKLEBY: the two-year-younger sister of Nicholas, Jr.
- NEWMAN NOGGS: Ralph Nickleby’s clerk, a ruined gentleman
- MISS LA CREEVY: a painter who lets out her house
- MR. WACKFORD SQUEERS: a one-eyed, cruel headmaster of exploitative school who hires Nicholas
- SMIKE (MR. DIGBY): a disabled boy at Squeers’ school
- LORD FREDERICK VERISOPHT: one of the gentleman Ralph Nickleby entertains at the party that he trys to entrap via Kate
- SIR MULBERRY HAWK: one of the gentlemen Ralph Nickleby entertains at the party that takes a liking to Kate
- MR. PYKE: one of the gentlemen Ralph Nickleby entertains at the party that is a toady of Hawk’s
- MR. PLUCK: one of the gentlemen Ralph Nickleby entertains at the party that is a toady of Hawk’s
- MR. VINCENT CRUMMLES: manager of a theatre group that hires Nicholas
- MR. CHARLES CHEERYBLE: a benevolent merchant
- NED CHEERYBLE: Charles’ twin brother
- TIM LINKINWATER: an elderly employee of the Cherrybles
- FRANK CHEERYBLE: nephew of the Cheeryble brothers
- MADELINE BRAY: devoted daughter who makes sacrifices to take care of her wastrel father
- ARTHUR GRIDE: an elderly gentleman, Ralph’s mentor, who is in love with Madeline
- PEG SILDERSKEW: deaf housekeeper of Arthur Gride
- MR. GODFREY NICKLEBY: The grandfather of Nicholas Nickleby, Jr. and father of Ralph and Nicholas Sr
- RALPH NICKLEBY, SR.: the uncle of Godfrey Nickleby, who leaves him an inheritance
- MR. SNAWLEY: a stepfather who enrolls his two stepsons in Squeers’ school.
- MRS. SQUEERS: the bullying wife of Mr. Squeers
- WACKFORD SQUEERS, JR.: the son of the Squeers who is heir to the school and their way of thinking
- MISS FANNY SQUEERS: 23 year old daughter of the Squeers
- MATILDA PRICE, later BROWDIE (KNOWN AS TILDA OR TILLY): Fanny Squeers’ best friend
- JOHN BROWDIE: the husband of Matilda Price
- MADAME MANTALINI: a milliner and dressmaker that employs Kate
- MR. ALFRED MUNTLE (MANTALINI): husband of the dressmaker whose English name was changed because it would have hurt business
- MISS KNAG: the forewoman at the dress shop.
- MR. CROWL: a selfish associate of Noggs
- MR. KENWIGS: an ivory turner who occupies the first floor of the building Noggs lives in.
- MRS. SUSAN KENWIGS: wife of Mr. Kenwigs
- MORLEENA KENWIGS: daughter of the Kenwigs’
- MR. LILLYVICK: the revered uncle of Mrs. Kenwigs, who is a collector of water rates and relatively affluent
- MRS. JULIA WITTERLY: a rich, self-obsessed lady who advertises for a companion
- MR. HENRY WITTERLY: Mrs. Witterly’s husband
- MASTER CRUMMLES: son of manager
- MASTER PERCY CRUMMLES: another son of the manager
- MRS. CRUMMLES: wife of the manager
- MISS NINETTA CRUMMLES: supposedly ten-year-old daughter of the Crummles, in fact several years older. Known on stage as The Infant Phenomenon
- MR. TOMMY FOLAIR: one of the actors, a dancer in the Crummles theater group
- MR. LENVILLE: tragedy actor
- MISS SNEVELLICCI: considered one of the talented actresses of the theater group
- MISS LEDROOK: fellow actress and friend of Miss Snevellicci
- MRS. LENVILLE: an actress, married to the tragedy actor
- MISS BELVAWNEY: one of the actresses who usually plays a page
- MISS BRAVASSA: an actress known for her beauty
- MRS. GRUDEN: assists in the Crummles’ domestic affairs, takes the money at the door, cleans the theater, and is an understudy.
- MISS HENRIETTA PETOWKER (MRS. LILLYVICK): an acquaintance of both the Kenwigs and the Crummles, an actress
- MR. TRIMMERS: a friend of the Cheerybles who raises money for families in need
- MR. BROOKER: a former clerk of Ralph’s
- MR. WALTER BRAY: a selfish man in great debt and ruin
