A female attendant in a quinceañera court is commonly called a dama.
The Spanish word dama means “lady,” and damas traditionally accompany the celebrant as part of the court of honor. They may wear coordinated dresses, enter during the formal procession, and participate in a choreographed presentation. Their role is ceremonial rather than an official legal or religious office.
A court can include both damas and male attendants, often called chambelanes. The number of attendants is not fixed worldwide: some celebrations use a large court, while others have only a few friends or no court at all. Modern families frequently adapt the arrangement to fit the celebrant’s preferences.
Dama is easy to confuse with madrina. A madrina is generally a female sponsor or godmother, whereas a dama is an attendant. Regional vocabulary also varies, and some celebrations use English titles such as “bridesmaid” informally even though the quinceañera is not a wedding.