What is the name of McDonald’s iconic yellow M-shaped symbol?

McDonald’s iconic yellow M-shaped symbol is called the Golden Arches.

The Golden Arches originated in the architectural design of early McDonald’s restaurants. The original buildings used large yellow arches on opposite sides of the structure, making the restaurants easy to identify from roads and highways.

In the early 1960s, the arches were combined into the stylized M that became the company’s principal logo. The symbol gradually became more important than the restaurant architecture itself and eventually developed into one of the world’s most recognizable corporate marks.

The name refers to the arches, not to a crown, gateway, or letter created from ordinary typography. Although the symbol resembles an M, McDonald’s branding history explains it as a development from restaurant architecture. The logo’s colors and shape have been refined over time, but the Golden Arches remain central to the brand.