The Spanish phrase meaning “fifteen years” in the traditional name quince años is quince años.
Quince años is an alternative name for the celebration commonly called a quinceañera. The phrase describes the birthday milestone itself, while quinceañera refers to the female celebrant or, by extension, the event. Spanish usage varies by country and community, so families may use quinceañera, quince años, or related local expressions.
The word quince means fifteen, and años means years. The ñ in años matters: anos without the tilde is a different Spanish word and does not mean years. In English-language writing, the name is sometimes written as quinceañera, quinceanera, or quince anos, although Spanish orthography uses the accent and ñ.
The event’s terminology reflects both language and regional custom. Not every family uses the same title, and the celebration can be religious, secular, intimate, or highly elaborate.