Named after Robert Mallet - Irish seismologist, engineer (1810-1881).
Mallet is a crater on the near side. It is located next to the linear valley named Vallis Rheita, in the rugged southeastern quadrant. To the northwest along the same valley formation is the crater Young. This is an old formation with a worn and rounded outer rim. (wikipedia entry)
A crater is a circular depression likely created by an impact event. On the Moon they are named after deceased scientists, polar explorers, astronauts or cosmonauts.