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It might have been an unappropriate comment to make, especially in relation to a child, but basically that's why I dislike names with meanings too obviously related to beauty.

Belle does have a pretentious feel to it. And it might mean beautiful, but to me it has a very frumpy, dowdy and downmarket image.
It's always funny when people on here go "My new baby is here! He has the blondest curly hair and blue eyes and he looks just like Simon Turnover from the new Doctor Who spinoff so we're naming him Simon!" The chances are good to excellent that little Simon 1. Looks like Simon Turnover only in the still-doped mind of his mama 2. will shed his blond curls in a few months and end up with mousy brown hair and rather faded gray-blue eys 3. Nobody will remember the new Doctor Who spinoff or Simon Turnover for longer than a year.

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Or like naming your daughter Lexus Armani Chanel is almost a dead giveaway that the family cannot possibly afford any of those things, because those who do, don't usually name their kids after them.

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A beautiful Belle would almost seem contrived, like she was using a stage/pen/screen name. A plain or even homely Belle would be the norm.

Aw, that is mean. Ugly kids often grow up very attractive. Look at the Harry Potter gang. Who ever knew Neville would turn out so well? I think there is hope for Belle.