What Spanish word names the honoree at a traditional quinceañera?

The Spanish word quinceañera names the girl or young woman whose fifteenth birthday is being celebrated.

The term is formed from quince, meaning “fifteen,” and the feminine ending associated with a female person. In everyday English, quinceañera can also refer to the entire birthday celebration, not only to its central participant.

Spanish-speaking communities use related words in different ways. A quinceañero may refer to a male honoree or to a celebration for a boy, while attendants and sponsors have separate titles that vary by region. Those roles should not be mistaken for the name of the honoree herself.

Spelling also varies when keyboards or publishing systems omit the ñ, producing quinceanera. The tilde is part of standard Spanish spelling, although the unaccented form is common in English-language searches and informal writing.