What is the name for the girl being honored at a quinceañera?

The girl being honored at the celebration is called the quinceañera.

The same word can refer to the event, which sometimes causes confusion for people encountering the tradition in English. In context, “the quinceañera” may mean either the celebrant or the party celebrating her fifteenth birthday.

The term is feminine because the traditional celebration centers on a girl’s transition into young womanhood. Some communities also hold celebrations for boys, using quinceañero, but that form is less internationally familiar.

The quinceañera is usually the visual and ceremonial focus of the event. She may wear a formal gown, participate in a religious service, receive symbolic gifts, and take part in a choreographed dance with relatives or members of her court.