Quinceañero is the Spanish term that can describe a boy celebrating a traditional 15th birthday instead of a quinceañera.
The word is the masculine counterpart of quinceañera, which refers to the female celebrant or, by extension, the celebration itself. Both terms derive from quince, the Spanish word for fifteen, and are connected with the transition traditionally marked at age fifteen.
Usage varies across Spanish-speaking communities. Quinceañera remains much more widely recognized because the ceremony historically centered on girls, while a boy’s celebration may be called a quinceañero or described simply as a 15th-birthday celebration. A quinceañero should not be confused with a chambelán, who is a male attendant or escort in the court.
Modern families adapt the format in many ways, including mixed-gender courts, different religious elements, and celebrations for boys and girls. The terminology therefore describes a convention rather than a universal rule.