Hamburgers inspired the name of the fictional McDonaldland character the Hamburglar.
The Hamburglar was introduced as a mischievous character whose defining goal was to steal hamburgers. His name combines “hamburger” with the word “burglar,” making the character’s role immediately understandable to children even without extensive explanation.
He became part of McDonald’s McDonaldland advertising world, which used colorful fictional characters to give the restaurant a distinctive family-oriented identity. Other McDonaldland figures included Ronald McDonald, Grimace, Mayor McCheese, and Birdie the Early Bird.
The Hamburglar’s appearance changed over the years. Early versions were more menacing and adult-looking, while later redesigns presented him as a smaller, childlike character. The name stayed connected to hamburgers, not to a specific menu item such as a Big Mac or Chicken McNuggets.