Quinceañero traditionally names a boy’s male counterpart to a quinceañera celebration.
The masculine Spanish ending changes the term from quinceañera to quinceañero. Both words connect the celebration to the age of fifteen and can describe the young person honored at the event, although quinceañera remains far more widely recognized internationally.
The word is not the same as chambelán. A chambelán is typically a male attendant or escort in the court of honor, while the quinceañero is the celebrant himself. Likewise, padrino means a sponsor or godparent-like supporter, not the birthday honoree.
Usage varies by region and family. Some communities use quinceañera as the name of the tradition even when adapting it for a boy, while others use quinceañero for the male celebration.