What was the original name of the breakfast cereal now sold as Cheerios?

The breakfast cereal now sold as Cheerios was originally called CheeriOats.

General Mills introduced CheeriOats in 1941 as an oat-based cereal made into small ring shapes. The name was changed to Cheerios in 1945 after a trademark dispute involving the earlier name.

Cheerios became known for its distinctive toasted oat flavor and small, circular pieces. The original product was later joined by many flavored and ingredient-based variations, but the plain version remains the best-known form.

A common mix-up is confusing Cheerios with other ring-shaped cereals. The name change is the key historical detail: CheeriOats was the launch name, while Cheerios became the enduring brand name in the mid-1940s.