An intelligent network address translation system and methods for intelligent network address translation. The invention analyzes all data packets being communicated between the private address realm and the public address realm and performs a predefined mode of network address translation based on the packet type. By analyzing every packet that the network encounters and adjusting the network address translation mode based on the packet type, the system and method of the present invention is able to adjust the mode of network address translation dynamically during a network user's ongoing network session. Additionally, by basing which mode of translation will be employed based on packet type the translation method of the present invention insures that IP addresses are distributed efficiently and distribution of the amount of addresses is minimized.