In a quinceañera, the young woman being honored is commonly called the quinceañera.
The word identifies both the honoree and, in everyday English, the celebration itself. In Spanish, context normally makes the distinction clear: a person can be la quinceañera, while a party or ceremony can also be called a quinceañera. The term is built from quince, “fifteen,” with a feminine ending referring to the girl or young woman.
The honoree is traditionally presented to family and community at age fifteen. The event may include a formal dress, a court of honor, a special dance, a cake, gifts, and—particularly in Catholic families—a religious service. No single checklist applies everywhere, and many celebrations adapt older customs to contemporary family life.
Quinceañera should not be confused with madrina, which means a female sponsor or godmother, or with dama, a female member of the court. Those people may support the event, but they are not the central honoree.