McDonald’s gave the two arches in its 1962 logo the name “Golden Arches.” The design transformed architectural elements from the restaurants into one of the world’s most recognizable corporate symbols.
Architect Stanley Meston designed the original arches as part of McDonald’s restaurant buildings in the 1950s. In 1962, company designer Jim Schindler combined the two arches into a stylized letter M for the corporate logo. The arches became more than decorative building features: they became a shorthand for the McDonald’s brand itself.
A common mix-up is treating the Golden Arches as the original name of the restaurant’s first mascot or advertising world. They are specifically the logo symbol and architectural motif. The logo has changed in presentation over time, including versions with the company name and versions showing the arches alone, but the golden M remains central to McDonald’s visual identity.