A method provides route transforming by a network device implementing a content centric networking (CCN) gateway or CCN router, where the CCN gateway or CCN router is part of a CCN network. The method transforms a CCN Name in a CCN request before forwarding in the CCN network. The method includes receiving a first CCN request including a first CCN Name, the first CCN Name including a route transformer identifier, generating a modified first CCN Name by removing the route transformer identifier from the first CCN Name, generating a second CCN Name from the modified first CCN Name; and generating a second CCN request including the second CCN Name.