What name does McDonald’s use for its yellow M-shaped logo?

McDonald’s calls its yellow M-shaped logo the Golden Arches.

The design developed from the physical arches incorporated into early McDonald’s restaurant buildings. Architect Stanley Meston created the original building concept for the McDonald brothers’ San Bernardino restaurant in 1953, including large yellow arches intended to attract motorists. The arches later became a recognizable symbol even after restaurant designs changed.

The logo was simplified into the familiar overlapping M in the 1960s. Jim Schindler is credited with creating the modern Golden Arches logo in 1962. The symbol became one of the world’s most recognizable corporate marks and is often used without the company name.

A common mix-up is calling the mark simply the “McDonald’s M.” Golden Arches is the established name for the symbol, while “McDonald’s” is the brand name. The phrase also appears in discussions of the company’s architecture and advertising history.