McDonald's introduced the modern Big Mac name in 1967.
The sandwich was created by Jim Delligatti, a McDonald's franchisee who operated restaurants in the Pittsburgh area. It was developed as a larger hamburger for customers who wanted something more substantial than the standard hamburger offerings.
The product first appeared regionally before becoming available across the United States in 1968. Its name, two beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions on a three-part sesame-seed bun became one of McDonald's most recognizable pieces of product branding.
Some accounts distinguish the 1967 introduction from the 1968 national rollout. That distinction matters: 1967 identifies the year the Big Mac was introduced, while 1968 marks its broader nationwide availability in the United States.