Which secretary is credited with naming the Big Mac?

Secretary Esther Glickstein Rose is credited with naming the Big Mac.

Rose suggested “Big Mac” while working as a 21-year-old secretary, and the name ultimately beat competing ideas such as “Blue Ribbon Burger” and “The Aristocrat.” McDonald’s adopted the name for the double-decker sandwich, which became one of the company’s defining products.

The naming credit is sometimes mixed up with the burger’s creator. Franchisee Jim Delligatti developed the sandwich in 1967 at his restaurants in the Pittsburgh area. Delligatti’s creation used two beef patties, a middle bun layer, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions and the signature sauce. Rose supplied the memorable name, not the recipe.

The Big Mac first appeared regionally in 1967 and was rolled out nationally in 1968. Its influence later extended beyond fast food: The Economist introduced the Big Mac Index in 1986 as an informal way to compare currencies and purchasing power using the sandwich’s price.