Well, pilots have "call signs"...usually given them by their fellow pilots during training.

In the original series it seemed more like a last name because they referred to him as Lt. Starbuck rather than just Starbuck (whereas in the newer series, she has a separate name, Kara Thrace and just goes by Starbuck as her call sign).

In the original series, Starbuck's parentage was in question. Fred Astaire guest-starred as a character who was revealed to be Starbuck's father (but not to Starbuck).