The Big Apple
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March 12, 2022
The Big Apple“Little Apple” and other nicknames

Little Apple (Manhattan, Kansas)

Manhattan, Kansas was incorporated in 1857. It compares to Manhattan, in New York City, only in name. After "the Big Apple" became famous in the 1970s, the Manhattan, Kansas Chamber of…

March 12, 2022
The Big Apple“Little Apple” and other nicknames

Little Apple (Roosevelt Island, New York City)

When "the Big Apple" caught on in a big way in the 1970s, Roosevelt Island joined the bandwagon, too. T-shirts proudly declared "Roosevelt Island - the Little Apple." Wikipedia…

March 24, 2024
The Big Apple“Little Apple” and other nicknamesBroadway North, Hollywood North (Toronto, Canada nicknames)

Little Apple (Toronto, Canada)

What the city of Toronto is to the country on Canada is comparable to what New York City is to the United States. When New York City popularized "Big Apple" in the 1970s, Toronto…

March 12, 2022
The Big Apple“Little Apple” and other nicknames

Little Apple (Yonkers, New York)

Yonkers is located next to New York City (the "Big Apple"), and the nickname "Little Apple" has been infrequently used. "Little Apple (Yonkers, that is)" was printed…

July 12, 2004
The Big Apple1970s-present: False Etymologies

Manzana Principal (suggested in 1966)

It is sometimes claimed that "Big Apple" comes from the Spanish, "manzana principal," the "apple" or block of a city. "The word manzana, so frequently used at…

February 24, 2025
The Big Apple1980s-present: Big Apple work by Gerald Cohen, Barry PopikSports/Games

Meet at the Apple (New York Mets podcast, 2024-)

The New York Mets baseball team have a Home Run Apple at Citi Field, based on New York City's nickname of the "Big Apple." In 2024, the Mets started a podcast called "Meet at…

March 12, 2022
The Big Apple“Little Apple” and other nicknames

Mini-Apple or Minneapple (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

"Minneapolis" actually means the "city of lakes" or "city of waters." However, it sounds like it means "mini-apples." After "the Big Apple" became…

August 6, 2021
The Big Apple1980s-present: Big Apple work by Gerald Cohen, Barry Popik

Mr. Met And His Journey Through The Big Apple (children’s book by Aimee Aryal, 2008)

Rising Apple is a blog about the New York Mets baseball team that was started in 2011. It is part of the Fansided series of sports blogs. The name "Rising Apple" is from the New York…

July 2, 2019
The Big Apple1980s-present: Big Apple work by Gerald Cohen, Barry Popik

N.Y.C. The Big Apple (Atari video game, 1984)

"N.Y.C. The Big Apple" was a 1984 action game written by Russ Segal for the Atari 8-bit family. The stated objective: "As a visiting tourist, you must visit 12 locations in New York…

May 10, 2021
The Big Apple1970s-present: False Etymologies

New Orange (not Big Orange; 1673-1674)

It is sometimes said that before New York City was the "Big Apple," it was the "Big Orange." New York City was called "New Orange" from 1673 to 1674, but this is…

December 19, 2013
The Big Apple1970s-present: False Etymologies

New York City is shaped like an apple (1970s)

When 'Big Apple" was re-popularized by the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau in the 1970s, many ideas about the "Big Apple" origin were put forward. New York (NY) Times…

April 25, 2009
The Big Apple1980s-present: Big Apple work by Gerald Cohen, Barry Popik

New York City’s Official Apple Proposal—Newtown Pippin (2009)

In 2009, an effort was made to declare the Newtown Pippin the official apple of the Big Apple. Newtown -- now called Elmhurst, Queens -- had a creek; some time about the 1730s, Gershom Moore…

March 18, 2025
The Big Apple1980s-present: Big Apple work by Gerald Cohen, Barry PopikSports/Games

New York Nike LeBron 6 “Big Apple” sneaker (2008)

American professional basketball player LeBron James and the athletic footwear company Nike collaborated for the New York Nike LeBron 6 (VI) “Big Apple” sneaker. The candy red sneaker debuted…

January 3, 2019
The Big Apple1970s-present: False Etymologies

New York State grows many apples (suggested in 1988)

New York State grows many varieties of apples, and it is sometimes claimed that New York City's nickname of the "Big Apple" is related to this. This suggestion was made to the…

July 18, 2004
The Big Apple1920s: John J. Fitz Gerald and the N.Y. Morning Telegraph

Numerous 1920s “Big Apple” citations in the New York Morning Telegraph

Gerald Cohen's 1991 monograph identified about seven "big apples." There are many more. The citations provide overwhelming detail of John J. Fitz Gerald's authorship and use of…

February 7, 2009
The Big Apple1980s-present: Big Apple work by Gerald Cohen, Barry Popik

Oxford English Dictionary “Big Apple” definition (September 2008)

In September 2008, the Oxford English Dictionary added a full "Big Apple" definition. I contributed to some of this, but did not write the definition. (I wasn't even given a…

November 4, 2025
The Big Apple1980s-present: Big Apple work by Gerald Cohen, Barry Popik

Red Apple (red/communist + Big Apple, 2025)

Zohran Mamdani, a sociliast candidate, successfully ran for New York City mayor in 2025. It was said that the "Big Apple" (New York City's nickname) would become the "Red…

April 23, 2021
The Big Apple1970s: Big Apple Revival

Red Apple Supermarket (supermarket chain, 1971-present)

There have been both "Big Apple" and "Red Apple" supermarkets. Sam Alterman opened the "Big Apple" supermarket in 1939 at 794 Marietta Street, N.W., in Atlanta,…

September 5, 2021
The Big Apple1980s-present: Big Apple work by Gerald Cohen, Barry Popik

Rising Apple (New York Mets blog, 2011-present)

Rising Apple is a blog about the New York Mets baseball team that was started in 2011. It is part of the Fansided series of sports blogs. The name "Rising Apple" is from the New York…

July 12, 2004
The Big Apple1920s: John J. Fitz Gerald and the N.Y. Morning Telegraph

Second “Big Apple” explanation: December 1, 1926

Above, the header from the 1924 newspaper column of John J. Fitz Gerald. Click to see a portion of the column which includes his use of "Big Apple." Part of a 1926 column is also…

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About the Website and Editor

BARRY POPIK is a contributor to the Oxford English Dictionary, Dictionary of American Regional English, Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Yale Book of Quotations and Dictionary of Modern Proverbs. Since 1990 he has also been a regular contributor to Gerald Cohen's Comments on Etymology.

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