The female celebrant of the fifteenth-birthday tradition is called a quinceañera.
The word is the feminine Spanish form associated with quince años, meaning “fifteen years.” In everyday English, quinceañera can refer both to the celebrant and, depending on context, to the celebration itself. The accent mark over the ñ is part of the standard Spanish spelling.
A quinceañera is not the same as a dama. A dama is traditionally one of the female attendants in the corte de honor, while the quinceañera is the central celebrant. A madrina is generally a female sponsor or godmother-like supporter, not the birthday celebrant.
The tradition is especially associated with Latin American communities and the Latin American diaspora. Its customs vary widely, combining family, religious, regional, and contemporary influences.