Which company name did McDonald's adopt in 1960, replacing the earlier name McDonald's Systems, Inc.?

The company adopted the name McDonald's Corporation in 1960, replacing McDonald's Systems, Inc.

The earlier name reflected the business system that Ray Kroc was developing around the McDonald brothers' restaurant model. Kroc's organization emphasized standardized operations, training, equipment, and franchising, so “Systems” described an important part of the company's identity.

The 1960 name change marked a broader corporate phase for the growing restaurant chain. By then, McDonald's was expanding beyond its original California locations and building a recognizable national brand.

The corporate-name change is distinct from the restaurant chain's logo changes. McDonald's branding evolved through signs, mascots, slogans, and the Golden Arches, while the legal corporate name changed as the business structure matured.