What Spanish name is commonly used for a boy celebrating a traditional male fifteenth-birthday ceremony?

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A boy celebrating a traditional male fifteenth-birthday ceremony is commonly called a quinceañero.

The feminine term quinceañera refers both to the girl reaching fifteen and, in common usage, to her celebration. Quinceañero is the corresponding masculine term. Some communities use quinceañera as a broad label for the tradition even when the celebrant is male, while others use quinceañero specifically.

Male celebrations can include formal clothing, family presentations, a court, a religious service, dancing, and other elements associated with quinceañeras. There is no single program that applies everywhere, because customs change across Latin America, the United States, and other communities.

The term should also be distinguished from chambelán. A chambelán is a male attendant in the court of honor; a quinceañero is the person whose fifteenth-birthday celebration is being marked. Similar-looking words therefore describe different roles.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Oct. 2026

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