I find it's easiest to remember the order of filename parameters with the following rule:
The first file must exist, the second file doesn't HAVE to.
It's left to right - the way we write. This rule works pretty much everywhere. For example:
nano test.txt
If test.txt exists it is opened, if it doesn't exist, it is created.
cp filename1 filename2
Which direction do they get copied? filename1 must exist more than filename2 therefore filename2 is the new file.
ln -s my_file another_file
If the left file must exist then we are creating a symlink called another_file --> my_file.
This is only a general rule of thumb and not all applications are created equal, but it should make it easier to remember parameter orders.