The Spanish word quinceañera names the celebrated girl at a quinceañera. In ordinary usage, it can also refer to the entire 15th-birthday celebration, depending on the country and context.
The feminine ending reflects the traditional focus on a girl reaching age 15. The masculine form quinceañero is used in some communities for a boy’s comparable celebration, although that custom is less widely recognized internationally.
The term is sometimes confused with the names of people in the ceremonial group. A dama is a girl or young woman in the court of honor, while a chambelán is traditionally a male attendant or escort. The quinceañera herself remains the central figure.