The McDonald’s character known as the Hamburglar took his name from the hamburger.
The Hamburglar was introduced as a fictional character who tried to steal hamburgers from McDonald’s. His name is a playful blend of “hamburger” and “burglar,” making the restaurant’s signature food part of the character’s identity. The character appeared in McDonaldland advertising alongside Ronald McDonald and other mascots.
The Hamburglar’s appearance changed substantially over time. Early versions were more eccentric and villain-like, while later versions were redesigned to look younger and more cartoonish. These redesigns sometimes lead viewers to treat the different versions as separate characters, although they represent the same branded figure.
The character’s name does not refer specifically to the Big Mac or another individual sandwich. It uses “hamburger” as the general food category, which is why those menu-specific answers are not correct. The wordplay was designed to be memorable for children.