The candy’s appearance has changed quite a bit since its introduction.

Early M&M’s were available in a much smaller range of colors than shoppers see today. Different shades have been introduced, removed, and brought back over the years.

The color selection has also become an important part of the brand’s identity, with fans often having their own favorite color despite the fact that the candies generally share the same basic chocolate center.

What About the Different Types of M&M’s?
The original milk chocolate variety eventually became just the beginning.

Over the years, the brand introduced numerous versions, including:

Peanut M&M’s
Peanut Butter M&M’s
Crispy M&M’s
Almond M&M’s
Pretzel M&M’s
Caramel M&M’s
Dark Chocolate M&M’s
Seasonal and limited-edition varieties
The exact lineup has changed over time, but the basic idea remains the same: chocolate surrounded by a colorful candy shell.

Why Is the Name Written as “M&M’s”?
The apostrophe and “s” indicate the plural form of the brand name.

Since there are many individual candies, the name became M&M’s rather than simply “M&M.”

You may also see the brand stylized in different ways in advertising and packaging, but the familiar name has remained remarkably consistent for generations.

A Small Name With a Big History
It’s easy to assume that the letters on a product are simply a catchy marketing invention.

In this case, they aren’t.

M&M’s is essentially a pair of initials honoring the two men whose partnership helped create the candy.

Forrest Mars brought the idea and his connection to the Mars company, while William Murrie brought an important connection to Hershey and the chocolate business.

Their collaboration produced a candy that went on to become one of the world’s most recognizable chocolate brands.

The Next Time You Eat an M&M…
Take a second to look at that tiny letter printed on the shell.

What looks like nothing more than a simple logo is actually a little piece of candy history.

The first M stands for Mars.
The second M stands for Murrie.

So the next time someone asks what M&M’s actually means, you won’t have to guess.

It’s simply Mars + Murrie—two names behind one of the most famous little candies ever made.