In a quinceañera, a female godmother or sponsor is commonly called a madrina.
Madrina is the feminine Spanish word for godmother, and in quinceañera customs it can also describe a woman who sponsors or helps provide part of the celebration. A madrina may contribute an item, service, or financial assistance, depending on the family’s arrangements. Multiple madrinas may be involved, sometimes paired with padrinos, or male sponsors.
The role is separate from that of a dama. Damas are young female attendants in the court of honor, while madrinas are adult sponsors or godmothers. The quinceañera herself is the celebrant, not a madrina.
Regional vocabulary and family practice vary. Some celebrations use a formal padrinos-and-madrinas system, while others simply thank relatives and friends who help. The key distinction is that madrina describes a sponsor or godmother, not a member of the dance court.