What Spanish noun names the girl celebrated at a traditional quinceañera?

The Spanish noun quinceañera names the girl whose fifteenth birthday is being celebrated.

In ordinary usage, quinceañera can refer both to the honoree and, by extension, to the celebration itself. The masculine counterpart, quinceañero, is used for a boy’s fifteenth-birthday celebration in traditions that observe one. English-language writing often retains the Spanish term because it identifies a culturally specific ceremony with no exact one-word English equivalent.

The term is built from quince, “fifteen,” and a suffix connected with years or age. The spelling includes the letter ñ, which distinguishes Spanish words such as año from ano and preserves the pronunciation of the original language.

The honoree is usually the central participant in a formal entrance, a religious or family blessing when included, and choreographed dances. Customs vary considerably, so the title does not require one universal dress, dance, or ceremony.