McDonald's French-fries characters were originally called the Fry Guys.
The Fry Guys were small, colorful McDonaldland characters with shapes and hairstyles resembling portions of French fries. They appeared in restaurant advertising alongside Ronald McDonald and other fictional residents. Their design turned a familiar menu item into a character that could support children's promotions and stories.
McDonald's later renamed the group the Fry Kids. The name change is a common source of confusion because both names refer to the same general character concept, and the characters' appearance also changed over the years. The Fry Guys name belongs to the earlier McDonaldland branding period, while Fry Kids became the later and more widely used name.