macOSNamen

macOSNamen refers to the official names assigned to the major releases of Apple's macOS operating system. In German-language discussions, the term is used to describe the sequence of public marketing names that identify each new version, often alongside the version number. The naming history reflects a shift in branding and communication around macOS.

Originally, macOS versions under the OS X umbrella used feline codenames and animal-themed marketing labels for several early releases. Beginning in 2013 with OS X 10.9, Apple started using more location-based names tied to California landmarks and regions, a pattern continued after the platform was renamed macOS in 2016. Examples of widely recognized macOS names include Cheetah, Puma, Jaguar, Panther, Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Lion, Mountain Lion, Mavericks, Yosemite, El Capitan, Sierra, High Sierra, Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura, and Sonoma. Each name typically corresponds to a specific release and, starting with macOS 11, to a particular version number.

The macOS naming scheme serves branding, marketing, and user-recognition purposes. It helps distinguish releases in software distribution, compatibility notes, and support documentation. While the underlying system evolves with new features and interfaces, the name remains a key identifier for users when discussing, installing, or supporting different macOS versions.