The Big Mac received its name from a contest held among McDonald’s company employees in 1967.
The sandwich was created by franchisee Jim Delligatti, who operated McDonald’s restaurants in the Pittsburgh area. It used two beef patties, a middle bun layer, cheese, lettuce, pickles, onions, and Big Mac sauce. The name was selected after the sandwich had already been developed.
The Big Mac was introduced nationally in the United States in 1968. Its distinctive name became a major branding asset because it was short, memorable, and clearly connected to McDonald’s naming style.
People sometimes confuse the Big Mac’s creation date with its national rollout date. The 1967 contest supplied the name, while 1968 marks its nationwide introduction in the United States. The sandwich later became one of the chain’s most recognizable products.