McDonald's original hamburger mascot was named Speedee.
Speedee appeared in McDonald's early branding as a smiling chef-like figure associated with the restaurant's Speedee Service System. The character represented quick preparation and service, which were central to the McDonald brothers' operating model in the 1940s and 1950s.
Ronald McDonald later became the company's best-known mascot, but Speedee was used first. The change reflected McDonald's move toward a broader family-oriented advertising identity rather than branding centered mainly on speed. Speedee is therefore sometimes confused with later McDonald's characters such as Grimace or the Hamburglar.
The name also connected the mascot to McDonald's original emphasis on efficiency. It should not be confused with the Golden Arches, which were an architectural and logo element rather than a character.