To celebrate Australian Day on Jan 26, McDonald's in Australia is temporarily changing the name of 13 stores across the country to Macca's, the Aussie nickname of the popular fast-food chain.

However, the name change is only temporary. The old name will be used again in February.

Among the McDonald's outlets which will make the temporary change, including in its signage, are those in southern Sydney, suburb of Engadine and in Queensland's Kangaroo Point.

"We're incredibly proud to embrace our Australian-only nickname. What better way to show Aussies how proud we are to be a part of the Australian community than change our store signs to the name the community has given us?" said Mark Lollback, McDonald's chief marketing officer in Australia.

The fast-food chain made the temporary name change after a national survey showed that at least half of Aussies use the Macca's nickname. It is the second most popular localised nickname after footy for Australian Rules football.

McDonald's has been in Australian for more than 40 years.

Outside Australia, McDonald's has at least 31 known nicknames. These are:

  • Ronnie Mac's Steakhouse
  • Mickey D's
  • Scottish Food
  • Golden Arches
  • McDick's (Canadian slang and U.S. slang)
  • Mackey-D's (British slang)
  • Placcy-D's (British slang, from the word "plastic." referring to the food)
  • Impastato's (Degio Jipjoint slang)
  • McDo (French slang)
  • MacDoh (Quebec French slang)
  • Mekkes (German slang)
  • Mekki (German slang)
  • Der Schotte (German slang) (literally the Scotch)
  • McDoof (German slang)
  • McDonaldos (Mexican slang)
  • McDonas (Mexican Slang)
  • Makku or Makudo (Japanese slang)
  • Mak Kee (Hong Kong Slang)
  • McDee's (New Zealand abbreviation)
  • McD's (Scottish abbreviation)
  • Donken, Mackid kan (among tweens) (Swedish slang)
  • Meki (Hungarian slang)
  • Mec (Romanian slang)
  • MacDohNo (Khmer slang)
  • McDo (Filipino slang)
  • Pat Panepinto Mart (Chilean slang)
  • Rotten Ronnie Oddo's (Canadian English Slang)
  • Ronchin Ronnies (Canadian English Slang)
  • The Big M
  • Starchy Arches (via Wikipedia)
  • Yucky McDucky's (via Buddy)