The Big Mac received its trademarked name in 1967.
The sandwich was created by Jim Delligatti, a McDonald’s franchisee in the Pittsburgh area. He developed a larger hamburger with two beef patties, a middle bun layer, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and special sauce to appeal to customers seeking a more substantial meal.
McDonald’s introduced the Big Mac in 1967 and made it available nationwide in the United States in 1968. Its name became a major part of the company’s product branding and later supported international advertising, packaging, and menu recognition.
The Big Mac is sometimes dated only to 1968 because that was the year of its national rollout. The earlier 1967 date refers to its initial introduction. The product also became associated with the Big Mac Index, an informal comparison of currency values created by The Economist in 1986.