What title is traditionally given to the girl honored at a quinceañera?

The girl honored at a quinceañera is traditionally called the quinceañera.

The word refers both to the celebrant and, in common English usage, to the fifteenth-birthday celebration itself. Spanish feminine grammar gives the term its final “a,” matching the young woman being honored. In some English-speaking communities, the event is also called a quince or quince años.

The label does not mean that every person celebrating a fifteenth birthday follows the same program. Some families hold a large formal event, some choose a small gathering, and others mark the birthday with a trip or another experience. Religious and secular versions are both found.

A quinceañera is distinct from the people who support the celebration. “Madrina” generally means godmother or female sponsor, while “chambelán” may refer to a male escort in some regional traditions. Those terms describe participants or sponsors, not the honoree. Usage also varies across Latin America, the United States, and Spanish-speaking communities elsewhere.