What name is commonly used for the yellow arches in the McDonald's logo?

The yellow arches in the McDonald's logo are commonly called the Golden Arches.

The arches originated in the architecture of McDonald's early restaurants. Architect Stanley Clark Meston designed the paired arch forms for the restaurant opened by Richard and Maurice McDonald in San Bernardino, California, in 1953.

In 1962, designer Jim Schindler combined the two arches into the stylized form that resembles the letter M. That logo helped turn an architectural feature into a portable corporate symbol used on signs, packaging, advertisements, and storefronts.

The arches are often described simply as an “M,” but Golden Arches is the established branding name and refers to their architectural origin. The symbol became one of the most widely recognized commercial marks in the world.