What is the common nickname for McDonald's golden M-shaped logo?

The common nickname for McDonald's golden M-shaped logo is the Golden Arches.

The symbol developed from the physical arches incorporated into early McDonald's restaurant architecture. The original arches were separate yellow structures on opposite sides of a building, designed to make the restaurants visible from the road.

The arches were later combined into the stylized M that became McDonald's most recognizable corporate mark. The company has used variations in different periods, but the yellow arches against a red background remain strongly associated with its restaurants and packaging.

“Golden Arches” refers specifically to the McDonald's symbol, not to the restaurant chain's full wordmark. The phrase is also used more broadly in popular culture as a shorthand reference to McDonald's, making it one of the most recognizable brand symbols in the world.