diff --git a/crates/perry-hir/src/lower/expr_function.rs b/crates/perry-hir/src/lower/expr_function.rs
index 4d57f008e..ff350dc2a 100644
--- a/crates/perry-hir/src/lower/expr_function.rs
+++ b/crates/perry-hir/src/lower/expr_function.rs
@@ -449,7 +449,115 @@ pub(super) fn lower_arrow(ctx: &mut LoweringContext, arrow: &ast::ArrowExpr) ->
     })
 }
 
+/// #5126: a named function expression binds its own name as a read-only
+/// local *inside its own body* (the FunctionExpression name scope per
+/// spec) — `const fact = function f(n){ return n<=1?1:n*f(n-1); }` must
+/// see `f` from within the body even though the outer binding is `fact`.
+///
+/// We model this without a new HIR node by wrapping the (otherwise
+/// anonymous) function in an immediately-invoked arrow that binds the
+/// name to the function value:
+///   (() => { let f = <function expr>; return f; })()
+/// The `let f = <closure that references f>` shape is exactly the
+/// self-recursive-`const` pattern that `collect_boxed_vars` already
+/// boxes (step 5: a `Stmt::Let` whose `Closure` init references the
+/// Let's own id). So `f` resolves to the function through its heap box,
+/// reusing the proven recursion machinery.
 pub(crate) fn lower_fn_expr(ctx: &mut LoweringContext, fn_expr: &ast::FnExpr) -> Result<Expr> {
+    // A named function expression with a non-empty ident may reference its
+    // own name from within its body. Lower it through the self-binding path,
+    // which keeps the IIFE wrapper only when the body actually captures the
+    // name (so plain `function f(){...}` and the synthetic `Function(...)`
+    // body stay a bare `Closure`).
+    if let Some(ident) = &fn_expr.ident {
+        let own_name = ident.sym.to_string();
+        if !own_name.is_empty() {
+            return lower_named_fn_expr(ctx, fn_expr, own_name);
+        }
+    }
+    lower_fn_expr_anon(ctx, fn_expr)
+}
+
+/// Lower a *named* function expression, binding its own name inside the
+/// body. We put the name in scope, lower the function anonymously, and
+/// inspect whether the lowered closure actually captured the name. If it
+/// didn't (the common case — no recursive self-reference), we discard the
+/// scaffolding and return the bare closure unchanged. If it did, we wrap
+/// it in an immediately-invoked arrow that binds the name to the function
+/// value:
+///   (() => { let f = <function expr>; return f; })()
+/// The `let f = <closure that references f>` shape is exactly the
+/// self-recursive-`const` pattern that `collect_boxed_vars` already boxes
+/// (a `Stmt::Let` whose `Closure` init references the Let's own id), so the
+/// name resolves to the function through its heap box — reusing the proven
+/// recursion machinery without a dedicated HIR node.
+fn lower_named_fn_expr(
+    ctx: &mut LoweringContext,
+    fn_expr: &ast::FnExpr,
+    own_name: String,
+) -> Result<Expr> {
+    // Wrapper scope: holds just the self-binding local. Collect the
+    // enclosing scope's locals first so they (not the self-binding) are
+    // what the wrapper itself captures and threads through to the inner
+    // function.
+    let wrapper_scope = ctx.enter_scope();
+    let outer_locals: Vec<(String, LocalId)> = ctx
+        .locals
+        .iter()
+        .map(|(name, id, _)| (name.clone(), *id))
+        .collect();
+    let self_id = ctx.define_local(own_name.clone(), Type::Any);
+
+    // Lower the function itself as an anonymous closure. With `self_id`
+    // already in scope, any reference to the name inside the body resolves
+    // to it (correctly shadowing any outer binding of the same name) and is
+    // captured.
+    let inner = lower_fn_expr_anon(ctx, fn_expr)?;
+
+    let self_referenced =
+        matches!(&inner, Expr::Closure { captures, .. } if captures.contains(&self_id));
+    if !self_referenced {
+        // No recursive self-reference — drop the scaffolding.
+        ctx.exit_scope(wrapper_scope);
+        return Ok(inner);
+    }
+
+    let wrapper_func_id = ctx.fresh_func();
+    let body = vec![
+        Stmt::Let {
+            id: self_id,
+            name: own_name,
+            ty: Type::Any,
+            mutable: false,
+            init: Some(inner),
+        },
+        Stmt::Return(Some(Expr::LocalGet(self_id))),
+    ];
+    let (captures, mutable_captures) = compute_closure_captures(ctx, &body, &outer_locals, &[]);
+    ctx.exit_scope(wrapper_scope);
+
+    Ok(Expr::Call {
+        callee: Box::new(Expr::Closure {
+            func_id: wrapper_func_id,
+            params: Vec::new(),
+            return_type: Type::Any,
+            body,
+            captures,
+            mutable_captures,
+            captures_this: false,
+            captures_new_target: false,
+            enclosing_class: None,
+            is_arrow: true,
+            is_async: false,
+            is_generator: false,
+            is_strict: ctx.current_strict,
+        }),
+        args: Vec::new(),
+        type_args: Vec::new(),
+    })
+}
+
+fn lower_fn_expr_anon(ctx: &mut LoweringContext, fn_expr: &ast::FnExpr) -> Result<Expr> {
     // Lower function expression to a closure (similar to arrow but
     // without `this` capture — function expressions have their own
     // `this` binding determined by how they're called).
diff --git a/crates/perry/tests/issue_5126_named_fn_expr_self_ref.rs b/crates/perry/tests/issue_5126_named_fn_expr_self_ref.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bb3756e59
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/perry/tests/issue_5126_named_fn_expr_self_ref.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+//! Regression test for #5126: a named function expression could not
+//! reference its own name from inside its body — a recursive self-call threw
+//! `ReferenceError: f is not defined`.
+//!
+//! Per spec, the identifier of a `NamedFunctionExpression` is bound (read-only)
+//! within the function's own body, independent of the binding it is later
+//! assigned to:
+//!
+//! ```ts
+//! const fact = function f(n) { return n <= 1 ? 1 : n * f(n - 1); };
+//! fact(5); // 120 — `f` resolves to the function itself
+//! ```
+//!
+//! Fix: when a named function expression's body actually captures its own
+//! name, lower it through an immediately-invoked arrow that binds the name to
+//! the function value (`(() => { let f = <fn>; return f; })()`). That `let f =
+//! <closure referencing f>` shape is exactly the self-recursive-`const`
+//! pattern codegen already boxes, so `f` resolves through its heap box. A
+//! named function expression that does NOT reference its own name keeps its
+//! bare closure (and its `.name`).
+
+use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::process::Command;
+
+fn perry_bin() -> PathBuf {
+    PathBuf::from(env!("CARGO_BIN_EXE_perry"))
+}
+
+fn compile_and_run(dir: &std::path::Path, source: &str) -> String {
+    let entry = dir.join("main.ts");
+    let output = dir.join("main_bin");
+    std::fs::write(&entry, source).expect("write entry");
+
+    let compile = Command::new(perry_bin())
+        .current_dir(dir)
+        .arg("compile")
+        .arg(&entry)
+        .arg("-o")
+        .arg(&output)
+        .output()
+        .expect("run perry compile");
+    assert!(
+        compile.status.success(),
+        "perry compile failed\nstdout:\n{}\nstderr:\n{}",
+        String::from_utf8_lossy(&compile.stdout),
+        String::from_utf8_lossy(&compile.stderr)
+    );
+
+    let run = Command::new(&output)
+        .current_dir(dir)
+        .output()
+        .expect("run compiled binary");
+    assert!(
+        run.status.success(),
+        "compiled binary failed (pre-fix: 'ReferenceError: f is not defined')\n\
+         status: {:?}\nstdout:\n{}\nstderr:\n{}",
+        run.status,
+        String::from_utf8_lossy(&run.stdout),
+        String::from_utf8_lossy(&run.stderr)
+    );
+    String::from_utf8_lossy(&run.stdout).into_owned()
+}
+
+/// The canonical repro from the issue plus a second self-recursive case and a
+/// non-self-referential named function expression (whose `.name` must survive).
+#[test]
+fn named_fn_expr_can_reference_its_own_name() {
+    let dir = tempfile::tempdir().expect("tempdir");
+    let stdout = compile_and_run(
+        dir.path(),
+        r#"
+const fact = function f(n: number): number { return n <= 1 ? 1 : n * f(n - 1); };
+console.log(fact(5));
+const fib = function fb(n: number): number { return n < 2 ? n : fb(n - 1) + fb(n - 2); };
+console.log(fib(10));
+const dbl = function named(x: number) { return x * 2; };
+console.log(dbl(21), dbl.name);
+"#,
+    );
+    assert_eq!(stdout, "120\n55\n42 named\n");
+}
+
+/// The self-binding must shadow an outer binding of the same name, capture
+/// enclosing-scope variables, and work for generators and IIFEs.
+#[test]
+fn named_fn_expr_self_ref_edge_cases() {
+    let dir = tempfile::tempdir().expect("tempdir");
+    let stdout = compile_and_run(
+        dir.path(),
+        r#"
+const mul = 3;
+const step = function step(n: number): number { return n <= 0 ? 0 : mul + step(n - 1); };
+console.log(step(4));
+const gen = function* g(n: number): Generator<number> { if (n > 0) { yield n; yield* g(n - 1); } };
+console.log([...gen(3)].join(","));
+console.log((function fac(n: number): number { return n <= 1 ? 1 : n * fac(n - 1); })(6));
+"#,
+    );
+    assert_eq!(stdout, "12\n3,2,1\n720\n");
+}