Hernández is the son of Javier Hernández Gutiérrez, who played for Tecos and was a member of the Mexico squad at the 1986 FIFA World Cup. Hernández is also the grandson of Tomás Balcázar who played for C.D. Guadalajara and played in the 1954 FIFA World Cup for the Mexican national side.
Hernández is commonly known as Chicharito, meaning little pea, in reference to being the son of former footballer Javier Hernández Gutiérrez, who was nicknamed Chicharo (pea) because of his green eyes.