The traditional Spanish word for a female member of a quinceañera court is dama.
Damas are female attendants who may accompany the honoree during the entrance, formal dances, photographs, and other ceremonial moments. They are commonly presented alongside chambelanes, the male members of the court. The court is sometimes called the court of honor in English.
The role is customary rather than legally or religiously required. Families choose the participants and decide whether the court should be large, small, mixed, or omitted. Contemporary celebrations frequently adapt the older gendered structure to reflect the honoree’s friends and family.
Dama means “lady” in Spanish and has several meanings outside quinceañera vocabulary. In this setting, it identifies an attendant, not the celebrant. The honoree herself is the quinceañera, while a madrina is generally a sponsor or godmother associated with the event or a particular expense.