What Spanish term names a boy’s counterpart to a quinceañera?

The Spanish term for a boy’s counterpart to a quinceañera is quinceañero.

Quinceañero is the masculine form related to quinceañera and is used for a boy celebrating his fifteenth birthday in a comparable coming-of-age tradition. The word comes from quince, meaning “fifteen,” and the suffix identifies a person associated with that age or celebration.

The feminine quinceañera tradition is far more prominent across popular culture and community practice, but quinceañero celebrations do exist. Some are modeled closely on quinceañeras, while others use different formats, including family parties, formal dinners, religious services, or ceremonial presentations.

The term should not be confused with chambelán, which usually refers to a male escort or member of the celebrant’s court, or padrino, which refers to a sponsor or godparent-like supporter. A quinceañero is the celebrant himself, not a participant supporting someone else’s ceremony.