In the traditional quinceañera court, 14 young women are commonly called damas.
Together with the celebrant, the 14 damas can symbolize the 15 years being honored. A court may also include 14 male attendants, traditionally called chambelanes, although the composition is flexible today. Some families choose a smaller court, a mixed-gender group, or no court at all.
The number should not be confused with the celebrant’s age. Fifteen people are associated with the symbolic court-and-celebrant arrangement, while the damas themselves are usually fourteen. Terminology and roles differ across Spanish-speaking communities and among families in the United States.
Modern quinceañeras frequently adapt the court to reflect close friends, siblings, cousins, or cultural preferences. Therefore, 14 is the conventional traditional number, not a requirement for every event.