The female members of a quinceañera’s court of honor are commonly called damas.
Dama means “lady” in Spanish, and damas is its plural form. In a traditional court, the damas accompany the quinceañera alongside male attendants known as chambelanes. They may take part in the entrance, formal dances, posed photographs, and other planned portions of the celebration.
Damas are not the same as madrinas. Madrinas are female sponsors or godmothers who may contribute money, services, or ceremonial items. The distinction is useful because a quinceañera can have both a court of damas and a group of madrinas, with entirely different responsibilities.
Modern celebrations often modify the arrangement. Some use only close friends, some include family members, and some replace the traditional gender divisions with a more flexible court. Therefore, damas describes a conventional role rather than a requirement found in every quinceañera.