The young woman celebrated at a quinceañera is called the quinceañera. The same Spanish term is also commonly used for the entire fifteenth-birthday celebration.
The word comes from quince, meaning “fifteen,” and añera, a form associated with years or age. In English-language writing, quinceañera is often used without translating it because it identifies both the honoree and the cultural event. The honoree is typically the central figure in the ceremony, formal portraits, dances, and family tributes.
Other Spanish words connected with the event describe different participants. Madrinas and padrinos are sponsors or honored adult supporters, while damas are members of the court and chambelanes are male attendants in many versions of the tradition. Those roles should not be confused with the quinceañera herself.