In a traditional quinceañera, a male attendant or escort is commonly called a chambelán.
The word comes from Spanish chambelán, meaning chamberlain or an attendant at a court. In quinceañera customs, chambelanes often participate in the celebrant’s formal entrance, choreographed dances, and ceremonial photographs. They may accompany a group of female attendants known as damas.
The exact composition of the court varies by family and region. Some celebrations have one principal male escort, while others include several chambelanes. Their role is ceremonial rather than a fixed religious office, and modern quinceañeras may omit the court entirely or replace traditional dances with contemporary performances.
Chambelán should not be confused with quinceañero, a term sometimes used for a boy’s own fifteenth-birthday celebration. Likewise, padrino generally refers to a sponsor or godparent, not specifically to a male dance attendant.