The girl celebrating her fifteenth birthday is called the quinceañera.
The same word is also commonly used for the celebration itself, so its meaning depends on context. A sentence may describe “the quinceañera” as the guest of honor or may use the word for the entire event. This dual usage is standard in English-language discussions of the tradition.
The term comes from Spanish and is connected to quince, meaning 15. In Spanish-speaking communities, families may also say quince años or fiesta de quince años when emphasizing the birthday party rather than the celebrant.
The word should not be confused with the names of people in the celebrant’s court. Damas and chambelanes are attendants, while madrinas and padrinos are sponsors or honored supporters in some celebrations. Those roles are separate from the quinceañera herself.