1. A computer-implemented method, comprising: receiving, by a content-name-resolution (CNR) server, a query from a client device for a source to a named data object, wherein the query includes at least a hierarchically structured variable-length identifier (HSVLI), and wherein the HSVLI further comprises a variable number of components, ordered from a most general component to a most specific component, and wherein the most specific component includes a name for the named data object; selecting, from a set of content records, wherein a respective content record comprises a respective content prefix and respective network addresses for one or more respective sources associated with the respective content prefix, a best-matching content record comprising a longest matching prefix of the HSVLI for the named data object, which further involves: selecting a best-matching content record with-containing a longest name prefix matching a first contiguous subset of the ordered components of the HSVLI, including the most general component; and responsive to identifying a second content record containing a longer name prefix matching a larger contiguous subset than the first contiguous subset, identifying the second content record as the best-matching content record; and returning, to the client device, a query response that includes the best-matching content record comprising network addresses for the-one or more best-matching sources.