What name is given to McDonald’s famous yellow M-shaped logo?

McDonald’s famous yellow M-shaped logo is called the Golden Arches.

The design originated as architecture rather than as a flat graphic. Early McDonald’s restaurants used two large yellow arches as eye-catching roadside features, helping motorists recognize the buildings from a distance. The arches were later combined into the familiar stylized M used in McDonald’s corporate identity.

The Golden Arches are often confused with the company’s earlier Speedee branding. Speedee was an early chef-like mascot associated with the Speedee Service System, while the arches became the stronger long-term visual symbol. The logo’s simplicity also made it easy to reproduce on signs, packaging, uniforms, and advertising.

Although the arches are now usually shown as a single connected M, their architectural origin remains central to the name. They are among the world’s most recognizable examples of corporate branding.