McDonald’s first nationally released children’s meal with a toy in 1979 was called the Happy Meal.
The product gave children a branded package containing a child-sized meal and a toy. Its name was deliberately upbeat and easy to understand, making it suitable for advertising, packaging, and family-focused restaurant displays.
Before the national launch, similar children’s meal concepts had been tested or sold in regional markets. The Happy Meal standardized the idea across McDonald’s restaurants in the United States and eventually became an international product.
The Happy Meal’s branding has changed over time, including different box designs, toys, and promotional partnerships. The core name, however, remained the central identity of the product rather than the name of any individual mascot.