Adult sponsors or honored supporters in a quinceañera are traditionally called padrinos.
Padrinos is the plural of padrino, a Spanish word meaning godfather or sponsor; padrina is a feminine form used in some contexts. In a quinceañera, padrinos may help pay for or provide important parts of the celebration, such as the dress, cake, religious items, or venue. Their precise responsibilities depend on family and regional custom.
Padrinos are not the same as the court of honor. The court is generally made up of the celebrant’s peers or attendants, while padrinos are usually adults with a sponsoring or supportive role. A family may have several padrinos, each connected with a particular gift or responsibility.
The practice reflects wider Latin American traditions of ceremonial sponsorship. It can resemble godparent relationships, but a quinceañera’s padrinos do not automatically become the celebrant’s baptismal godparents. The terms should therefore be understood within the context of the specific celebration.