What is the birthday celebrant traditionally called in a quinceañera?

The birthday celebrant in a quinceañera is traditionally called the quinceañera.

The term comes from Spanish and is connected to quince años, meaning “fifteen years.” In English-language usage, quinceañera most often identifies the girl or young woman whose fifteenth birthday is being marked, although the same word is also widely used for the celebration itself.

The quinceañera is usually the central figure in the ceremony and reception. Depending on the family’s choices, she may wear a formal gown, participate in a religious service, perform a choreographed waltz, and be accompanied by relatives or a formal court. None of those details is required everywhere; regional and family practices differ.

A madrina is generally a sponsor or godmother, a dama is traditionally a female member of the court, and a chambelán is traditionally a male escort. Those roles are distinct from the quinceañera herself.