A full traditional quinceañera court of honor has fourteen female attendants, called damas.
Together with the quinceañera, the fourteen damas represent the celebrant’s fifteenth year and the transition marked by the birthday. In many formal celebrations, the court also includes fourteen male attendants, called chambelanes, creating a balanced group for processions and choreographed dances.
This number is traditional rather than mandatory. Contemporary families may choose a smaller court, a mixed group of friends, or no court at all. Regional customs, budget, venue size, and the celebrant’s preferences all affect the final arrangement.
The number fourteen is sometimes mistaken for fifteen because the event marks a fifteenth birthday. The traditional count refers to the attendants; the quinceañera herself is counted separately.