What name is given to the yellow arches that form McDonald's famous letter-M logo?

The yellow arches that form McDonald's famous letter-M logo are called the Golden Arches.

The arches began as architectural features of McDonald's restaurants rather than as an abstract corporate symbol. Architect Stanley Meston designed curved arches for the restaurant building in the 1950s, making the buildings visible from nearby roads.

As McDonald's expanded, the arches became more recognizable than the individual restaurant structures. Their shape was eventually combined into the familiar double-arched M, turning an architectural feature into one of the world's most recognizable commercial marks.

The Golden Arches are often described simply as the McDonald's logo, but the term also refers to the broader visual symbol and its history. The phrase should not be confused with Golden Gate, which is associated with San Francisco's bridge and other place names.