The Spanish word that names both the honoree and the fifteenth-birthday celebration is quinceañera.
In everyday usage, quinceañera can mean the young woman celebrating her fifteenth birthday, while it can also refer to the party or observance itself. The term comes from quince, meaning fifteen, and is connected with the phrase fiesta de quince años, or “party of fifteen years.”
English-language usage often keeps the Spanish spelling, including the ñ. The masculine counterpart, quinceañero, may be used for a boy’s comparable celebration, although terminology and customs vary among communities. Many families use quinceañera as the familiar name regardless of whether the event is religious, secular, elaborate, or modest.
The word should not be confused with madrina, meaning a female sponsor or godmother, dama, meaning a female member of the court, or chambelán, commonly used for a male escort or court member.