A male member of a quinceañera’s court of honor is called a chambelán.
Chambelanes are attendants who may participate in the celebrant’s entrance, formal photographs, choreographed dances, and other ceremonial moments. The word is Spanish and is commonly used in Mexico and many Mexican American communities, although terminology varies throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
The court can include both boys and girls. Female attendants are often called damas, meaning “ladies,” while male attendants may be called chambelanes. A quinceañera may also choose a smaller court, a mixed group of friends, or no formal court at all.
Chambelán should not be confused with padrino. A padrino is a godparent or sponsor who may help support the celebration, while a chambelán is an attendant. Nor does the word mean quinceañero, which refers to a male celebrant of a fifteenth birthday. These roles can overlap in a family’s plans but have different usual meanings.