The honored boy’s male counterpart in Spanish quinceañera customs is traditionally called a quinceañero.
The word is the masculine counterpart of quinceañera and can refer to a boy celebrating his fifteenth birthday through a comparable coming-of-age event. In Spanish, the ending helps distinguish grammatical gender: quinceañera is feminine, while quinceañero is masculine.
The tradition is much more commonly associated with girls, especially in Mexican, Central American, South American, Caribbean, and Latino communities in the United States. However, families may adapt the celebration for boys or organize inclusive versions that do not follow a strict gender pattern.
Quinceañero should not be confused with quince años, which literally refers to “fifteen years” and can describe the birthday or celebration without specifying the honoree’s gender. English-language usage also varies, so some families simply use “quinceañera” for the event itself even when honoring a boy.