What Spanish word names the girl honored at a traditional quinceañera?

The Spanish word for the girl honored at a traditional quinceañera is quinceañera. The term is also widely used for the celebration surrounding her fifteenth birthday.

The word comes from quince, meaning fifteen, combined with a feminine form associated with a young woman. In some contexts, quinceañera can therefore refer to the celebrant, the party, or the broader tradition, depending on how the sentence is phrased.

A quinceañera’s attendants may have different names. Damas are traditionally young women in the court, while chambelanes are traditionally young men. Madrinas and padrinos are sponsors or honored adult participants, not alternative names for the celebrant.

Modern celebrations may include mixed-gender courts, nontraditional clothing, or no court at all. Those changes do not alter the standard Spanish name for the person whose fifteenth birthday is being celebrated.