The product name chosen after “Aristocrat” and “Blue Ribbon Burger” were considered was Big Mac.
Jim Delligatti, a McDonald’s franchisee in the Pittsburgh region, created the sandwich in 1967. Because it was larger and more elaborate than McDonald’s standard hamburger, the company considered several names before settling on “Big Mac.” The final name was short, rhythmic, and easy to remember.
The sandwich’s name became part of its branding, not merely a menu label. Its distinctive middle bun, two beef patties, special sauce, and familiar ingredient sequence made it identifiable in advertising and restaurants around the world.
The Big Mac was tested regionally before becoming a national menu item in 1968. “Quarter Pounder” is also a famous McDonald’s product name, but it refers to the approximate pre-cooking weight of one beef patty and was introduced later. The rejected names belong specifically to the Big Mac’s naming history.