Who coined the name “Big Mac” for McDonald’s 1967 sandwich?

Esther Glickstein Rose coined the name “Big Mac” for McDonald’s 1967 sandwich.

Rose was a 21-year-old advertising secretary at McDonald’s headquarters when she suggested the name during a product-naming discussion. The sandwich itself had been developed by franchisee Jim Delligatti, who introduced it in the Pittsburgh area before it became a national menu item.

The Big Mac’s branding succeeded because the short, rhythmic name immediately communicated a larger version of a familiar hamburger. McDonald’s later supported the product with memorable advertising language, including the ingredient jingle that described its special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and sesame-seed bun.

Jim Delligatti is often mistakenly credited with naming the sandwich because he invented its original restaurant-level version. His contribution was crucial to the product’s creation, but Rose supplied the name that became one of McDonald’s most recognizable trademarks and menu phrases.