File system object-based deduplication

Systems and methods for optimizing deduplication in a data storage system are provided. The method comprises associating a first name with first data blocks including first content stored in a data storage system, wherein the first name is associated with the first data blocks by way of a reference to a first meta file that points to a data file which points to the first data blocks; storing a first signature derived from the first content in an indexing data structure, wherein the first signature is used to associate the first name with the first data blocks and as means to verify whether a second content is a duplicate of the first content, based on value of a second signature derived from the second content.