I would add them to the symbol (after removing the circle there's free space for them). So it would be pin designators as part of the symbol plus the pin numbers around the symbol.
If we take a "clear enough" NPN symbol, we should distinguish B,C,E without need for more clues. Anyways the most important thing is to know which number is which termination, like 123=BCE, or 1=B, 2=C, 3=E, or something like that.
On the other hand, if we remove the icon circle, we could increase the figure_size within the same symbol_size, therefore perhaps it would be easier to identify BCE that way, or indeed the letters can be added to the symbols itself.
So, if I get correctly what you mean, as a picture worth thousand words, with the attached you can imagine some options we may have.
(PS: BTW I realize the arrow of the NPN should be a tad down-right on the currently used symbols).