Which McDonald’s mascot was named after the restaurant chain’s hamburger?

The Hamburglar was the McDonald’s mascot named after the restaurant chain’s hamburger.

The character’s name combines “hamburger” with the word “burglar,” expressing his original role as a mischievous character who tried to steal hamburgers. He became part of the McDonaldland cast and was commonly shown wearing a striped outfit, cape, gloves, and a broad-brimmed hat.

The Hamburglar’s appearance changed over time. The earliest version was shorter and more grotesque, while the later version was redesigned as a younger, more cartoon-like character. These redesigns helped McDonald’s keep the mascot visually appealing to children.

The Hamburglar is sometimes confused with Grimace because both were recurring McDonaldland figures. The name itself is the key branding clue: it is a wordplay reference to hamburgers and burglary, while Grimace’s name describes his facial expression rather than a menu item.