In a traditional quinceañera, the celebrant’s male escort or attendant is called a chambelán.
The word comes from Spanish court vocabulary: a chambelán was historically a chamberlain or court attendant. In a modern quinceañera, the chambelán may escort the celebrant during the formal entrance, participate in choreographed dances, and appear with her in photographs.
A quinceañera may have one chambelán or several male attendants, depending on family preference and local custom. These attendants are often part of a larger court of honor, which can also include the celebrant’s female attendants.
The term is not identical to padrino. A padrino is a sponsor or godparent-like supporter, while a chambelán is primarily an attendant in the ceremonial court. Terminology also varies across Spanish-speaking regions, so some families use local titles or simply describe the person as an escort.