In a traditional quinceañera court, the male escorts are called chambelanes.
Chambelanes is the Spanish plural commonly used for the young men who accompany the quinceañera in the formal court. They may be relatives, friends, or classmates, and they often wear coordinated formal clothing and rehearse dances for the reception.
The term belongs to the ceremonial vocabulary of the celebration, where the court helps create a staged entrance and formal presentation. The number of chambelanes is not fixed. Some families pair them with damas in a balanced court, while others use a different number or omit a court altogether.
Chambelanes should not be confused with padrinos. Padrinos are godparents or sponsors, whose role is usually connected with support, gifts, or organizing parts of the event. A chambelán’s role is instead that of an escort or participant in the court. Modern quinceañeras may also use gender-inclusive or informal court arrangements.