What nickname is commonly used for McDonald's yellow “M” symbol?

McDonald's yellow “M” symbol is commonly called the Golden Arches.

The name originated with the large yellow arches built into the design of early McDonald's restaurants. In the 1950s, the arches were architectural features intended to make roadside locations visible to passing motorists. They later became a flat graphic logo and eventually represented the company independently of any particular building.

People sometimes confuse the Golden Arches with the restaurant's earlier Speedee character or with the McDonald's wordmark. Those are separate branding elements. “Golden Arches” specifically means the paired yellow arch symbol.

The symbol became especially powerful as McDonald's expanded internationally. In some countries, advertising and signs have used the arches without displaying the full company name, relying on the mark's global recognition. Its success helped establish the idea that a simple architectural motif could become a company's central visual identity.